This may be your first or 15th Christmas without a loved one. Either way, I think you'll be encouraged by an online event that premiers tonight at 8 PM on our church YouTube Page - Restoring Christmas. I had the opportunity to preview this.  As Joel, one of our pastors, shares about the loss of his Dad in the video, I could relate so much to those moments by my Dad's bedside as we let him know that we would take care of mom and letting him know what a good Dad, husband, grandfather, Uncle, and friend he had been. He pointed us through words and actions to the Light of the World - what an amazing song at the end of the video.

We were able to let him know that it was OK to go. As I have walked with a few families since then through funeral planning and grief, I'm reminded that not everyone gets to have those type of moments with their loved ones before they pass. It was such a gift. It has still been hard going through events without him like his beloved younger brother's (Richard's) memorial (who passed away this week last year, but who's funeral was just able to happen last month due to COVID), Dad's first birthday since he passed (11/22) and our first Thanksgiving without him here. I'm so grateful that we're not going through this alone. I'm thankful for the continued prayers from family and friends and for resources like the attached video and the practical resources mentioned at the end of the video.