As I was decorating the church the other day, Andy William’s Christmas classic, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, echoed through the sanctuary. Andy sang of good cheer, holiday greetings and gay happy meetings. But I knew that the season wouldn’t be happy for everyone.
It’s supposed to be a time when family and friends come to call, but how many people will be alone for the holiday? Maybe their job has taken them far from home. Maybe they are elderly and their family and friends have all passed on. Maybe their expectations or family conflicts have isolated them from others. For these people, there will be no parties for hosting, no marshmallows for toasting, nor caroling in the snow.
It is during happy times when we are often so caught up in our own merriment that we overlook those who need us most. We forget the real reason for the season, to share with others, to give of ourselves. It’s important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large wonderful families. Some have problems during the holidays and some are overcome with great sadness when they remember loved ones who are not with them. Many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness.
We all need caring thoughts and loving prayers. Those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, or worries of any kind just need to know that someone cares. No one should be alone this time of year. The greatest gift you can give is your love and compassion.
When I opened the Spiritual Path Church, one of the first programs I started was a candlelight Christmas Eve service. I wanted people to feel welcome and at home. I wanted to offer them a loving haven where they would not be isolated on Christmas Eve. I invited everyone to come sit in the power of the angels. As a Spiritualist, I wanted them to understand that we are never alone, that there are always loved ones and angels watching over us.
It is my wish that the when anyone sits in this little Spiritualist church, they are surrounded by the glorious and magnificent feelings of love and endearment that come from their love ones and the angels. I know when I sit here on Christmas Eve, memories come back from days gone by. I am fortunate I have my congregation and family with which to share these wonderful feelings.
I see a lot of lonely and distressed people this time of year for a variety of reasons. It is my obligation, no, my pleasure, to assure people that their love ones are still around in spiritual form, and to help them with issues of closure. We must all be the light that helps others see. We must extend a warm and helping hand of compassion to a lost soul to bring their spirits back. By doing so, we also create a gift of healing for ourselves as well.
By giving love and compassion to others, we will make this the most wonderful time of the year.