Amparo Atencio
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays!
Have you done all your shopping?
Are you ready for Christmas?
Enjoy Christmas break!
These, and many other, happy phrases have been floating around for over a month now, uttered by joyous, happy people. I am sure they are sincere, if blissfully disconnected and unaware of the sadness and pain of enduring this time without my son.
But it’s not personal. These are general expressions of love and goodwill.
And so I accept the tenderness and love with which these phrases are intended.
And I extend peace to us all. Peace to us, despite our suffering. Peace to us, even though it seems impossible.
Let us wrap our minds around peace and love. May it help us through this holiday season as we face 2015 without our precious children.
Dearest Tracy, I think bereaved moms everywhere shared your sentiments on the holidays and the loss of our children. There are words such as “happy” and “merry” that taken on new meaning or maybe I should say have lost some of their meaning. It seems even now after 9 years and some of the weight has lifted, life is still filled with a bitter sweetness as never before. I look back and think I must have lived in a bubble not to have realized how others have faced such difficulties before me. Sending you big hugs as this another year begins without our loved ones. Love, Debra
“Peace and love” I like that. I never know what to say when someone excitedly shouts, “Merry Christmas!” I don’t think I’ve said it in three years, and I certainly don’t send Christmas cards anymore. Bah humbug, but it isn’t a “merry” time. My favorite and biggest celebrating partner isn’t here to open presents, get our annual Christmas picture made, or empty his stocking in the floor. Many traditions are tied to this time of year, and the changes are not welcome. It is difficult to embrace “Merry Christmas”, so I will focus on peace and love. Thank you, Amparo. I will let you know if this works for me. Love, Tracy