When Holidays Are Hard

For so many, Mother's Day and other holidays are hard.

Some are really tough for tragic reasons, some are trying due to relational difficulties and
some disappointing because of idealistic expectations.

What if instead of man's instituted and set holidays, we chose to celebrate as we were led by the Spirit and remembered our mother's, fathers, the new year, Jesus' birth, death and resurrection and all things praise worthy, all the time; each and every day?

Might that somehow alleviate the pressure, the sadness, the stress and the envy that are often associated with holidays?

What if the standard was raised to the place, where instead of just on one day out of the year, each and every day we chose to love one another, "where we were at?"  And whether in grief, remembrance, repentance or celebration, in everything, we gave thanks, honored one another and our Savior?

Might it put the focus back on God and His greatest commandment?

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 
Mark 12:30-31

Instead of a need for awkward apologies, a bumbling of inappropriate responses, or the pressure to be where we're "not," and the envy that others seem to "have" what we wish we had and and "be"where we wish we were...is it possible we might could actually:

 

REST in God knowing each tomorrow is: A day where He is at the center of the universe, His tender mercies are new and His promise remains: Never will I leave you nor forsake you.

Heavenly Father,
We bless those that struggle with holidays. We bless those that are grieving. We bless those having relational difficulties or any current circumstance that makes celebrating a holiday particularly hard.
We ask that You surround them with an extra amount of comfort and love, and that Your presence be with all those who need You most.
Give us an awareness and an extra sensitivity that will make us mindful that we are not all on the same page nor all running the same race.
What we celebrate most of all, LORD, is the holiness of You.  For You alone know the times, seasons and how to minister to our spirit, each and every day.
We thank you that like a mother, Your Holy Spirit knows how to kindly, lovingly and tender-heartedly nurture and comfort us.
We honor all mothers this Mother's Day and pray that each and every child and mother in need of comfort, love, affirmation, validation, affection, understanding, forgiveness, guidance, healing, redemption restoration, resurrection and power will know, that whether they have these things in their  earthly relationships or not -- they can always be found in You.
In Sorrow and in Joy - We PRAISE You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins