The Christmas Season is my absolute favorite time of the year. It is during Advent when I like to meditate on the awesomeness of a world chosen by God to be the abode of the promised Messiah, a place where Divine Light shines forth from the darkness. It transports me to a higher realm of anticipation. How incredibly blessed are we!!

Don’t you know that all of creation, which is a reflection of God’s love and which responds to its Creator first above all things, was quivering in apprehension of what was about to happen over 2,000 years ago. I just know that the animals and the non-human creation were privy to the approaching hour of God’s arrival on earth. How many untold times has the natural realm in today’s world forewarned us of impending disaster? Don’t you know that impending “glory and redemption” was twice as powerful!!

The Son of God, assuming a human nature, eternally chosen with significance, has come down to us in the greatest cosmic event of history, the Birth of Jesus Christ.

To that end, all things, men, angels, animals and matter were made through Him and for Him. He is the sole reason that all things exist and the measure of every external work of the Creator. As God appeared to enter into creation through His Son, so through the same Son does creation find its rest back with the Father who is in Heaven.

So what does this have to do in dealing with death and loss?

In a recent communication with one of our readers, she shared with me her absolute desolation at this time of year, as she just lost her beloved Bearded Collie of 14 years. She was asking me for support and a way to get through Christmas without crumbling all together. It prompted me to address this issue, as I have received other, similar emails on this same subject.

Earthly death is an absolute! No one and nothing in this created universe survives beyond the time allotted it by the Creator.

Our Christian faith teaches us that death is actually nothing more than the moving through a finite existence, leaving our life here on earth and moving into the infinite existence prepared by God.

Let me share a GREAT truth with you that is sure to comfort you in so many ways. In Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:15, it says:

What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.

The footnote at the bottom of my Douay Rheims Bible states:

2-Ver 15, God restores: the meaning is probably that God allows no part of His creation to drop out of existence.

But, let us continue.

Because we were created human, we bear in ourselves the ability not only to chose to rejoice exceedingly, but also to sorrow immeasurably. It is sometimes in the later that we forget what has been given us in Sacred Scripture and we afflict ourselves with the pain of denial, anger, alienation, guilt and depression. And there is pain in all of these, it is part of the mourning process.

It is important to know that the effects of the pain of mourning in the loss of a loved one, is inevitable and normal and is amplified in the early stages. We are letting go of something we loved so very much. But the continued cycle of mourning is optional.

Contrary to some schools of thought, time does not heal. What time does is it allows us to be less overwhelmed with the loss. We move into the realization that part of life IS suffering. We must move past that into our continued, necessary living. It is important that to choose to heal, to move forward, recognizing that “the Light shines in the darkness” for you and all that you love.

We owe it to the memory of the one we love to heal and live again. Our life without our loved one or pet can become a living memorial to the beauty of the love shared.

I know this! I have been present to the passing of over sixty animals as they returned to their eternal home. The sting of earthly death is crushing. I was at my husband’s side three years ago as he drew his last breath and was received back home, to the place of his origin with God…the loss of his presence shattering.

The pain of loss at times can be excruciating to me. But, it doesn’t overtake me. I will not let it. I make it a love offering to Jesus every time it comes around and I can honestly say that Jesus heals that pain every time.

My point to all of this is that the Advent Season can become a new advent of healing for you. It has been so in a powerful way for me.

I’d like to share with you a personal formula for peace and healing at this beautiful time of year:

1. It is important that you be with supportive people. Letting your emotions out in front of people who support you allows you to sort out the two big issues, pain and confusion.

2. Establish new routines at home. It is easier to do now than any other time of year. The season is full of opportunities to engage and extend your spiritual life. Invite friends and family in for a celebration of Light!

3. Get out of the house. Go to a holiday show or museum. Consider a Christmas vacation away from home if you feel especially drawn to do so. Your new surroundings, especially the beauty of creation, can give you a heightened sense of God’s eternal love for you and all that He has created. Feeling better is not disrespectful. On the contrary, it testifies to the depth of faith you have in the promised words of Our Lord, when He said: “Behold, I make all things new!”

4. Start a list of smart and funny things your loved one or pet did and keep adding to that through the season. It will become a treasured book of memories and be sure to dedicate it to the Creator who assures us of the greatest reunion “yet to come!”

5. One thing I found to be a truly healing exercise, was to write a will to myself from my loved one or pet. If your beloved could leave you something, what would that be, what would they tell you? It is amazing how revealing and healing this becomes.

6. Set up a memorial to your pet on our web site. Visit our PET MEMORIAL SUBMISSION PAGE and know that your pet and it’s story will forever be remembered!!

7. Plant an evergreen in your yard to remember your loved one or pet. Evergreens are treasured for their longevity. Certainly a reminder that your loved one or pet is now being eternally cared for and will never forget you, nor lose the bond that was given you by God.

As Jesus’ arrival upon the earth was heralded by the heavens full of singing angels, so too is the whole of creation heralded into eternity by a loving Creator who loses nothing that He has created.

But you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Wisdom 11:24-26

Let Advent be your NEW advent, as you unite your loss and love with the One who will LOVE you and yours for an eternity.

Wishing you a blessed, inspiring and healing Advent Season!

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