By: Nate Gustafson, M.Div
Published: December 19, 2024
If I hear Elvis croon “Blue Christmas” one more time, I think I will be sick. This year, it’s been an even bluer Christmas as more voices have come through the radio in a “Blue Christmas” chorus.
As a seasoned hospice chaplain, I am all in favor of being sensitive to the holiday blues, and even lead “Blue Christmas” types of services for those grieving souls who feel anything but holly and jolly, but listening to Elvis doesn’t connect to me personally.
On the other hand, Elvis turns my mom’s Christmas spirit a bright green and red.
My family doubled over laughing as my mom explained in great detail the concerts that she used to attend where the local Elvis impersonator made aging ladies swoon by throwing them a scarf as he belted out the timeless holiday classics.
Here’s a question for you - What color describes your Christmas this year? Are you feeling a little blue or are you feeling it’s a red and green Christmas this year?
I had a Divine Appointment a few years ago with an old friend Bob who was in the midst of his first blue Christmas without his wife of 61 years. It wasn’t planned, but we happened to show up at the same event focused on dealing with grief during the holidays.
As Bob shared about trying to make it through his first Christmas without Betty, it was clear that even Elvis and his soulful renditions of Christmas classics would not ease the pain Bob felt that year.
My family also knew a family from our church who lost a loved one to suicide around the holiday season. His grandmother, mother, wife and children probably felt like it was a very blue Christmas that first year and for many years to come.
Grief touches lives in many unique ways that no one can predict.The death of a loved one may have happened 30 or 40 years ago, but sad notes still come to mind every December for the surviving family members.
Or maybe the season of grief gets triggered because of a traumatic childhood event that someone endured. For others, the grief comes because they have been confined to their bed, unable to take care of the most basic of needs without assistance.
As a fellow struggler on this journey of life, there are many years where I faced the temptation to succumb to the “Bah-Humbugs” that threatened to turn a joyous season into a blue Christmas.
Whether you are having a blue, red, green or purple-polka-dotted Christmas, what we all need is someone or lots of people who have an extra special gift of understanding for those having a blue Christmas.
We need compassionate companions who walk alongside us in the blues instead of trying to force our blue to become a red and green, silver or gold.
We need people who will understand that the blues are natural and a necessary part of going through loss and not freak out.
So please, don’t freak out when someone has the courage to admit that the color of their Christmas or holiday season is blue this year.
Please thank them for their honesty and walk with them in their journey because next year, you may need that person to walk with you during your blue Christmas and holiday season.
FREE GIFT: To help you enjoy a green and red Christmas, or to comfort your and others in your world going through a season of the blues, get a free sample of the Alongside: Foundations Training by clicking ALONGSIDE.
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