Hold On when the Seasons Feel Heavy

The holiday season is often described as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. But for anyone navigating grief, this time of year can feel like walking through a room filled with bright lights while holding a shadow no one else can see. Everything around you says, “Be merry,” while your heart whispers, “I’m hurting.”

If this season feels heavier than usual, you are not alone and you are not broken. Grief has a way of resurfacing around moments that are meant to be full of love, comfort, and togetherness. It reminds you of who is missing, what has changed, or what you hoped would be different by now.

But there is a quiet strength available to you, even in your sorrow.

There is a timeless truth that says those who mourn will be comforted. Comfort doesn’t always remove the pain, but it wraps you in support you may not have noticed before; a deep breath you didn’t think you had, a person who reaches out at the right time, a moment of stillness that softens the ache, even if only for a few minutes.

Another truth reminds you that even when you walk through dark valleys, you are not walking through them alone. Your steps may feel slow, but you are still moving. Your heart may feel tender, but it is still beating. There is a presence guiding you, steadying you, and holding you even when your own strength feels fragile.

And when the holidays stir up memories that feel too heavy to hold, know that it is okay to step back. It is okay to create new traditions, adjust old ones, or say “no” to anything that overwhelms your spirit. Endurance doesn’t mean pretending to be okay; it means allowing yourself to feel while still believing that your heart can heal.

There is also a promise woven through your pain: joy does return. Not the loud, glittering joy advertised on commercials and billboards, but a gentler joy; one that rises slowly, like morning light. Sorrow may last, but it does not last forever. There will be moments (small at first) where warmth breaks through again.

If you are grieving this holiday season, here are a few gentle reminders:

• You do not need to rush your healing.
  Time doesn’t dictate your pace; your heart does.
• You are allowed to honor your loved one in ways that feel right to you.
  Light a candle, share a story, play their favorite song, or simply sit with your memories in quiet reflection.
• You are stronger than you realize.
  Every day you wake up and choose to keep going even with a hurting heart is an act of courage.
• You are held, supported, and surrounded even on days when it feels otherwise.
  Comfort is closer than you think.

Enduring grief during the holidays doesn’t mean ignoring your pain or forcing yourself to celebrate. It means choosing to keep living, breathing, and hoping even in small ways while allowing compassion to meet you right where you are.

Your heart may be grieving, but it is also healing.

Your tears may fall, but so does grace.

And even in this season, you are not alone.