Christmas time and grief

Christmas time is often

painful,

pain such as losing a beloved child

such as Lucia;

the last time I saw Kh. Ramia she was beautifully

pregnant with Lucia.

To lose such a daughter is heartbreaking.

*

I think also of the woman in my parish

who lost both parents

41 days apart

and could not go to the funerals;

how we did services for them at my church,

how the woman brought different breads,

we sang,

held the candles,

and loved her.

Thank God that we have the church and prayers therein

to help sustain us through the dark valleys of grief.

Christ is with us in these times,

Christ wept at the death of Lazarus.

(The priest says:)

May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead and as immortal

King has authority over the living and the dead, have mercy on us and save us,

through the intercessions of his spotless holy Mother; of the holy, glorious,

and praiseworthy Apostles; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the

holy and glorious forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of his holy

and righteous friend Lazarus, who lay in the grave four days;

and of all the Saints, establish the soul of His servant (name) departed from us,

in the dwelling place of the Saints; grant rest to him (her) in the

bosom of Abraham and number him (her) among the righteous.

- from the Trisagion Service by Holy Cross Orthodox Press

Prayer to the Mother of God

O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, do Thou save and preserve

under Thy protection my children (names), all youths and infants,

baptized and unnamed, and those in their mothers wombs.

Cover them with Thy maternal garment, preserve them in

the fear of God and in obedience to their parents.

Entreat my Lord and Thy Son that He may give them what is

profitable for their salvation. I entrust them to Thy maternal care,

for Thou are a Divine protection for Thy servants.

- prayer written at the back of the small pamphlet,

Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children

*

May God be near to all those for whom the

Christmas holidays

are also a time of loss and grief.

*

Christ has come on Christmas Day

so that He could destroy death by death.

May His Resurrection comfort and give courage

to us!