Posts Tagged With: holidays

Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

Posted on November 7, 2025 by tricialathrop

November 7

Things seem to go really well, then all of a sudden, a word, song or picture will cause me to tear up and sometimes full fledged sobbing. I used to look at the crying emoji which shows waterfalls falling out of the eyes and think, who cries like that? I do.

The last two weeks have been more difficult because this is when we dealt with the diagnosis and his first treatment. Scary times, but continued hope for a total restoration to health.

Now, I’m facing the holiday season without him. I really did not expect last year to be our last Thanksgiving together, our last Christmas together…but then how does one prepare for that?

I’ve made plans. My daughter will come in for Thanksgiving and we’ll go to my niece’s new home. My brother and his wife will be there, as well as my sister and her beau, along with nieces and nephews. I’ll be surrounded by family for the day.

My daughter will help me decorate for Christmas, and we’ll do some Black Friday shopping. We do a lot of people watching and go out to eat. Christmas will be spent with my children and grandchildren.

Plans are great, but can’t prevent the memories washing in like a flood. This is the price of love, I cherish the memories even though tears accompany the memories. Norm and I had a lot of fun together. I married him because he made me laugh every day.

I am thankful for the almost 45 years that I had with Norm. He was a good man with a good heart.

I pray for those of us who will be facing the holidays without a loved one. Though the days can be tough, God is able to comfort us in our grief.

I rejoice that the season ahead gives us time to consider the hope that came with the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who loved us enough to die on the cross so that we could walk in relationship with God.

Where’s the joy? It is in the memories, both good and bad. God blessed me with my marriage to Norm.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.

To declare Your loving kindness int he morning and Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 92:1-5

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Where’s the Joy?

Posted on December 12, 2024 by tricialathrop

December 11

I didn’t write yesterday. Some days it is tough to process all that happens One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.

After an extra day in the hospital, Norm came home. The care at the hospital is awesome, the TLC shown by each staff member in words and actions goes a long way in minimizing suffering. But it’s not home.

The unfamiliarity, the flickering lights and shadows of the machines, the sounds, alarms…all disturb a sense of rest.

Norm was glad to be home. He looked around and commented on the lack of Christmas decoration, no tree, no nativities. I did pull out our Christmas plates and cups. It’s not been a priority. Since he mentioned it, I’ll get some things out. Definitely more low key this year.

As I wrote this, I thought of a quote from How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. “And the Grinch with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

We are definitely having a Christmas without a lot of the ribbons and wrappings. But I think we’ll get back to the heart of Christmas.

I am thankful that Norm is home.

I pray for all who are dealing with devastating illness or disability this season, that they will find times of fun and happiness in the celebration this year.

I rejoice in the Reason for the Season, the coming of the Son of God who died on the cross to bring salvation to all humanity.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:7-14

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might by saved through Him. John 3:16-17

Where’s the joy? The Lord has come!

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Christmas Is Coming

Posted on December 1, 2022 by tricialathrop

“He did hear a sound out over the snow. It started in slow and then started to grow. This sound wasn’t sad. The sound sounded glad. Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing without any presents at all.

He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming.

It came. Somehow or other it came just the same.

It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.”

(Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

As a child I anticipated Christmas Day, looking forward to a day filled with unending wonder. We traveled to the grandparents after opening our gifts and I played with my cousins and our new toys. The day itself held a special magic and as a child I felt that Christmas would never come. However as an adult, Christmas Day comes all too quickly.

I want to do it all. deck the halls, bake cookies, put up lights, buy gifts, attend special shows and concerts…all while trying to keep the regular stuff in my life from spinning out of control. I have a list of gifts, people, parties, and responsibilities. And while I want to do it all, instead of a celebration, Christmas can become a burden.

Christmas Day is coming, but the Christmas Season is already here. I don’t want to focus on the day itself and miss celebrating the event. I don’t want to be so busy that I sit down on December 26 and ask, “What happened to Christmas?”

What is the secret for experiencing the joy this season?

If I’m too busy getting things done that I can’t stop to speak with a friend, I’m missing the joy.

If I’m running late and I swear at the little old lady who cut me off, I’m missing the joy.

If I’m stressed to the max because I over committed and take it out on my family, I’m missing the joy.

This year, I am determined to enjoy the process. I am going to choose the extras that bring pleasure to family, friends, and myself…and leave the other undone.

Instead of moaning and complaining when interruptions or complications arise, I’ll try to find the joy in it. And perhaps the joy will start slow, but it will start to grow.

Christmas is coming. Christ already came. Let’s enjoy the gift that God has given to us.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

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