“Though I fall, I will rise; though I sit in the darkness of distress, the Lord is a light for me.” Micah 7:8

Holiday Expectations

Turkey. Stuffing. Potatoes. “Looks like you’ve got fun plans for Thanksgiving,” the cashier said with a bright smile as I unloaded my groceries from the cart. My eyes flooded with tears, “Oh, please Lord, not here!” But it was too late. Giant tears started falling from my eyes, my throat constricted and my mouth went dry. I wanted to tell the cashier it wasn’t her fault and that I appreciated her holiday cheer. But instead I just ugly cried, bagged my groceries, and left as quickly as I could.

It was two days before Thanksgiving and my “fun” Thanksgiving plans had changed when my mom had a massive stroke and my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, both just days before the holiday. Instead of planning the perfect side dish, our family spent our days talking about surgery, chemotherapy, and if my mom would ever walk again.

A family member suggested that I make Thanksgiving dinner to take to my mom in the hospital. I immediately wanted to bless my mom that way, but I had never made Thanksgiving dinner by myself and I was completely overwhelmed. Thus ensued my complete sobbing breakdown in the checkout line at Winco. That Thanksgiving, we ate under fluorescent lights on paper plates in a hospital waiting room. It was not the holiday we had planned, and for that we grieved, but Jesus stood with us in the midst of it all. We saw Him at work in every kind word, compassionate hug and faithful prayer that was uttered for healing and strength.

I don’t know what your Thanksgiving will look like this year. Maybe someone is missing at the table, or you’re in a Red Cross evacuation center, or camping in a tent in the Walmart parking lot, or lying in a hospital room. Wherever you are, I hope you know that you are not alone. Jesus understands our pain when our expectation of how we thought things would be doesn’t match the reality of how things are. He gives us the HOPE of Himself in these dark times. Our smallest whisper of thanksgiving in the middle of the storm is a resounding thunder to the ears of God. Jesus, Himself, will be your light when days are dark—cling to Him and let His love be your strength.

If you happen to be one who is called to the work of being a help and comfort to others who are going through a hard time, I pray that the Lord will strengthen you as well and that your love will increase and overflow for each other. There is treasure to be found in this darkness—we need only to open our eyes and wait.

“Dear Jesus, we thank You that you are doing a new thing in the middle of our hardest days even when we can’t perceive it. Thank You that You hear our cry for mercy and we can call on You as long as we live. Please give us Your strength and grace to weep with those who weep, comfort those who mourn, and bring Your hope to our hurting community this Thanksgiving and always. Amen.”