Is There Anyone You Know Who Might Have Been Forgotten This Christmas?

Christmas is a beautiful time of the year for most of us, most of the time. But it is also true that Christmas can be a very painful time of year for some, especially those who have experienced recent loss or who, for various reasons, have fewer family options at Christmas. Yes, Christmas can be the best of times or the loneliest of times, the most wonderful time of the year or the most painful.

The video below reminds us that Christmas can also be a time to reach out to others who have a hard time experiencing Christmas. Perhaps it is a relative or friend who has lost a spouse this past year and who will be alone for the first time this Christmas. Perhaps it is someone who is left out because his family is far away. Perhaps it is someone who is shy or even a little antisocial. But somewhere under all the grouchiness we see their pain and know that they need some attention at Christmas. I know that I have some sick parishioners who need a special visit this week.

Whatever the reason, there are always those who need to be included, those who for various reasons feel excluded.

In the video, a hare and a bear are fast friends. Unfortunately, the bear always misses Christmas because he is in hibernation. Something inside the hare tells him that Christmas will not be Christmas without his friend, and without his friend being able to experience the joy of Christmas. It occurs to the hare that there is a particular gift that would help his friend the bear to enjoy Christmas, even if only for a moment. And so he gives the gift, which you will see at the end of the video.

I leave it to you to watch the touching conclusion and to ask yourself who the bear is in your life. Who is it that you need to reach out to in this season of Christmas? For me it was an old family friend that I had lost touch with this past year, and whose mind is beginning to fade with age. She had been good to my father in his dying process, and so I sought her out and we had a nice talk.

How about you? Who is that someone in your life who needs some special attention this Christmas? Christ will surely be pleased if you give the gift of love.

Dear Sarah,
I’m so sorry about what happened in your life this Christmas! I lost four family members this year myself, and what helps me is the idea that God planned their time on earth and their crosses before they were even conceived. I can’t say I know how you feel; I do know what it’s like though, to miss, and hurt for, those whom you love dearly. It is Jesus’ becoming man that gives us hope: hope that such suffering is not in vain; hope that we will all be together one day in God’s Holy Presence, where we can see Him as He is, and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes! May God bless you, and Our Lady keep you!

Thank you, Salvation! That was a wonderful post, and not simply for Christmas! There are always those around us who need help: whether food; a call; a visit with a kind word! Sometimes these people who need the warmth and friendship you can give are right in front of you and you may not even know it... For some of us, family has nothing to do with DNA, but with the people who choose to be close at hand, all year round, sharing time, laughter, tears, simply out of the kindness of their hearts, and the gentle Spirit Who moves them! I thank God every day for those people in my life, who make me feel as if I still mean something in this crazy world! May God give me the grace to do the same! And let us always remember, “Pray one for another!” God bless you, and all our FRiends!

I’m so sorry for ruining your thread with my comment, Salvation.

But I want you to know that my nephew is the object of multiple miracles that are happening every day. For one thing, they said he’d be paralyzed from the waist down but now they are not thinking it will last. Nothing is as bad as it first looked...

Thanks for your prayers and again, I am sorry I hijacked this important thread.

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