WHEN MOTHER'S DAY IS HARD

Mother's Day is only days away. For many women, they are looking forward to the day. A time with their loved ones. A day of being showered with love and appreciation. Yet for others, they are dreading the day. It's a day of painful reminders.

The truth is, Mother's Day isn't an easy day for every woman. It's a time when she grieves the loss of her own mother deeply. It's a time when she grieves the loss of her child. A time when she mourns a barren womb. A time when she is reminded of the brokenness in her family. Yes, Mother's Day can be a painful day.

If you are in the category of dreading Mother's Day, friend, I am so sorry. My heart aches with you. Here are a few ways to help you cope with the day:

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WHEN CHRISTMAS IS HARD

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love all holidays and Christmas has always been placed at the very top of that list. Until four years ago.

In the early hours of Christmas morning 2019, my phone rang, waking me from my sleep. A phone call at this hour is never good. I saw my mom's name flash across the screen and said a sleepy, "Hello?" She uttered two words that have forever changed my life. "It's Papa." I jumped from bed screaming, waking the household. We raced to my grandparents home and when we arrived, I jumped from the car before my husband even stopped. As I ran inside, my dad met me at the door and with unfallen tears pooling in his eyes, he shook his head.

Life has not been the same. Since that sorrowful day, we also lost my Mamaw two years ago. She passed on Halloween, and while I do not celebrate Halloween in any way, it was just one more holiday that "stole" my grandparents from me. My grandparents were my best friends, my biggest cheerleaders, and my strongest prayer warriors. Losing them has been one of the absolute hardest things of my life.

To continue reading, please join me at Woman to Woman Ministries. Click HERE.

WHEN CHRISTMAS IS HARD & THE 10TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BLESSING GIVEAWAY

I have always loved Christmas! Everything about it is wonderful and glorious! I have so many precious memories of the holiday. Beautiful Christmas productions at church, Christmas Eve fun with my dad's family, Christmas morning with my parents and siblings, getting to eat cookies for breakfast, and Christmas dinner with my mom's family. Then when I married we added so many more precious memories with our own children. Watching my children light up when they open a gift, reading the Christmas story from the Bible, baking cookies together, so many wonderful moments tucked away in my heart.

Until December 25, 2019...

This was the worst Christmas ever. And to be transparent, I have struggled to even like the season ever since.

You see, just after midnight on Christmas morning, my grandfather left this world for his heavenly home. Life hasn't been the same since. I haven't been the same since. I know Christmas didn't take him. I know it was his time and God called him home. But mercy it still hurts. I feel like it left a stain on Christmas. Every decoration and tradition is a reminder of that grief stricken day. Christmas is hard.

My family has faced some struggles, some discord. My once inseparable family is now so far apart. I used to love and look forward to spending the day together, now I worry and can't help but wonder what will happen now. Christmas is hard.

One of my best friends lost her battle with cancer in October. She loved Christmas! Each year we would talk about Christmas, send each other pictures of our trees, and video each other on Christmas morning. I miss her. Christmas is hard.

My grandmother left this world for her heavenly home on October 31st. Just five weeks ago. It hurts so bad. This will be our first Christmas without her. An already difficult day, now even harder. I miss her sweet words, her hugs, her food, everything about her. Christmas is hard.

I know I am not alone. Many of you struggle with finding joy at Christmas for one reason or another. Many of you are facing the first Christmas since the loss of a loved one. Many of you feel alone. Many of you are hurting.

What can we do when Christmas is hard? When we want to unplug the lights because how dare they possibly twinkle with joy when we hurt so bad. When we want to scream at the top of our lungs because the Christmas carols won't stop and we don't want to hear it. When our heart is aching.

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas isn't about all the glitz and twinkle. Though it can be glorious (when we are in the mood for it), it takes our mind off what really matters and reminds us of the pain and loneliness.

When I focus on the holiday of Christmas, I see what I am missing out on; my grandparents gone, my dear friend gone, and my family torn apart. But when I focus on the meaning of Christmas, I see the blessing; because Jesus came, I know my grandparents and friend are in heaven right now and I will see them again one day. When I focus on the holiday of Christmas, I remember the shock and pain of my mom's voice through the phone at 1am saying, "It's Papa!" But when I focus on the meaning of Christmas, I see the memories and the love.

We must shift our focus to the true meaning of Christmas and to our Savior. When we do this, we are allowing Him to come down and bring comfort and peace like only He can. Through His comfort and peace, we can find pockets of joy in the season of Christmas.

If Christmas is hard for you, put Christ back at the very center of the season. Keep your eyes and heart fixed on Him.

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We want to help with the financial burden this year so we have partnered with some amazing bloggers to bring you the 10th Annual Christmas Blessing Giveaway!

One blessed person will win $480 in Paypal cash! That cash can be used to help buy Christmas gifts, buy groceries, pay a bill, or whatever you want to do with it.

Thank you to our bloggers!

Woman to Woman Ministries

Jenifer Metzger

I Choose Joy Now

Coupons and Freebies Mom

Jan Burt

A Delightful Glow

Bible Journaling Ministries

Homeschooling Dietitian Mom

Danielle Tate

Live Well Blessed

The Round About Farm

Mama’s Coffee Shop

Changing Focus

Amy Bovaird

Experience His Freedom

The Manor Manor

Wonder and Grace

Let’s Paint With Jesus 

A Mama’s Story

To enter to win, just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. The winner will be chosen at random by rafflecopter.com on December 14th and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond claiming their blessing.

Rules:
No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited by law. **Open to US/Canada residents only.** This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated by Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest. By entering this giveaway, you agree to release Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Woman to Woman Ministries, and all participating bloggers of all liability. Contest ends at 12:01am EST on December 14, 2020. Winning entry will be verified. Winner is randomly chosen by Rafflecopter and will be emailed.

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THE COMPLICATED HEART

Have you ever struggled with a difficult relationship? Someone you were, or should have been, close to hurt you deeply. You hold on to this pain, or perhaps anger, as it eats away at your heart and robs you of joy. You hear that forgiveness is necessary and would even free you. But the thought of forgiving is inconceivable. You finally get to a moment when you think maybe, just maybe, it will all be okay then suddenly you feel slammed with more heartache.

Author Sarah Mae gets it. She's been there. She knows the pain, the anger, the confusion, the torment, the hopelessness. In her brand new book, The Complicated Heart, she shares personal stories of her relationship with her mom. Sarah is transparent as she tells of all she went through and all she overcame. As you read you will feel like you are sitting down having a deep and open conversation with a friend.

You will not only learn of Sarah's struggles, you’ll travel with her mom as well as you read her mom’s journal entries and letters. You’ll get a rare peek into that mind and heart the person who hurts us.

The Complicated Heart is a must read for anyone who has walked through the pain of a complicated relationship. To pick up your copy, click the banner below:

FINDING BLESSINGS FROM A GRIEVING HEART

Friday morning started out like any other morning. We woke up and my husband got ready for work then left. I had my quiet time with God then begin to get ready for my day. While getting ready my phone rang with the special song telling me it was my husband. Thinking he was just calling to remind me of a phone call I needed to make that day, I answered. Instantly I knew something was wrong. I could hear it in his voice when he asked what I was doing. I asked him what was wrong but I couldn't understand him. Then when the words came across more clear, I couldn't comprehend what he was saying. It had to be a mistake. His mother had just passed away.

My handsome husband and his beautiful mom on our wedding day.

It was a hard, whirlwind weekend. The pain has been almost unbearable. We miss her like crazy already. May I ask you to hold our family in prayer?

Continuing to count God's sweet blessings...

2315. My precious mother-in-law, Linda.

2316. Her crazy, spontaneous phone calls that always ended abruptly with "ok, bye."

2317. The way she'd rather have a case of Pepsi than flowers for Mother's Day.

2318. The way she said even the simplest things were "fancy." 

2319. The amazing son she blessed me with.

Share something you are praising God. I would love to rejoice with you.

The Broken Way {Giveaway}

We've all faced some form of brokenness at some point in our life. Many of us still going through that brokenness. Often, just when we think time has healed our wounds, we find there are still cracks and the pain starts all over again.

Ann Voskamp reminds us of a Biblical truth in her new book The Broken Way. She says , "There is the truth: Blessed -lucky- are those who cry. Blessed are those who are sad, who mourn, who feel the loss of what they love, because they will be held by the One who loves them. There is a strange aching happiness only the hurting know -for they shall be held."

She also says, "Brokenness happens in the soul so the power of God can happen in the soul." Yes, we will feel broken. Our heart will ache and we may feel like we will never be able to go on. But God promises that He is close to the broken hearted. He promises to comfort us and to never, ever leave us.

There is something so good, so sweet about this brokenness, when we turn to the Father.

As always, Ann has a beautiful, poetic way with words that reach right into your heart and grab you as she encourages you. In The Broken Way you will be encouraged to see your brokenness as a way to get closer to God. Along with the book, in her six session study guide and dvd, Ann asks questions that you cannot afford to ignore. Questions like how did you live your one broken life? What does it mean to cruciform and learn to receive? And what do you do if you really want to know abundant wholeness -before it's too late?

To enter to win The Broken Way book, study guide and dvd, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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