Christmas; the special time of year when hearts should be happy, families together and everything right with the world. Wouldn't it be nice if that were true?

All of us here on this site are going through perhaps the first holiday season without someone who made our lives whole and who gave our lives meaning. Others of us have endured the holiday season before. For some perhaps there is less hurt. For others perhaps even more.

If I were a magician I would wish our loved ones were back with us.. happy..alive and without illness None of us can do that so the following are my Christmas wishes for those of us on DS.
Where ever we our on our journey through grief I wish all of us the the following gifts.

1. I wish us the gift of COURAGE. Courage to face each day and each night. The courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The courage to hang on and also to reach out to others who may need help.

2. I wish us the gift of HOPE. Hope for a better day somewhere in the future. Hope that we will find meaning in life again and a purpose to go on living.

3. I wish us the gift of REMEMBERENCE . To remember the good things we shared with our loved one. To remember that even though we are now alone, we had the joy and companionship of someone very very special in our lives.

4. I wish us the gift of PEACE. May each of us find peace in our hearts and our minds that will ease our journey of grief.

5. I wish us the gift of LOVE. Love for our fellow man/woman that our hearts may not turn to bitterness. Love for what is still beautiful in this world. Love, enough to share with others who need comfort.

Sincerely wishing all of you a gentle and kind Christmas.