Where is the joy in this year’s holiday season? My Christmas tree is sitting on the table waiting for me to decorate it. It has been there for three days. I can’t seem to bring myself to find the joy, the excitement I usually have in decorating the house and tree.

Why? I think grief hangs over many of us right now and shadows our emotions. Grief keeps us from seeing the Light, the beautiful, the joyous. Grief covers all.

I didn’t personally lose anyone from covid, yet I am feeling a small bit of the emotional loss so many are feeling. My sense of their loss is but a drop in the ocean compared to the grief of those whose mother, father, brother, sister, cousin, or friend feel. 

As a country we are affected, each in our own way, by the grief that hangs over all of us.

What to do about it? How to find a bit of joy? How to smile, at least inside, while decorating the tree?

First we have to recognize that to some degree we are all grieving this season. Then we make a conscious decision to lift the heavy veil and peek beyond it, let a bit of light and joy in. 

Now is the part where I tell you how to do that, how to let the light in. I’m not sure there is a pat answer to that question. I’m not sure there is a “do this and you will feel better” message for everyone.  I think we each have to find our own way. I think the advice, the sharing, the many ideas on grief, on living our best life are offerings for us to search through, to try on like shoes in a store. Somewhere in the sampling we can find what holds true for us, find what makes sense in our sorrow, our confusion, our disarray.

My holiday wish for you is to include all those you love, whether alive or gone from you, in this season. Talk in your heart to those not physically present, share yourself with them as you share your physical presence with others. Don’t be afraid to talk about those who have died. "Remember when Dad did---." "Oh, Mom would have loved ---."

And try to not be alone. Reach out to others, be with others. It's been a hard year and a half.  Let’s let some Light in.