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A Revisited Devotional from December 15, 1998
John 16:22-23 – And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (KJV)
A familiar tune that's heard throughout the Christmas season is Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas". Whether it's Presley's powerful voice, the strings of some instrumental, or the strains of friends pouring out their hearts in song, it is traditionally counted among the contemporary classics of Christmas music.
And although the words refer to the heartache of a love lost to someone else, it reminds us that there are those for whom Christmas is a pretty blue time — black, even — for they are without someone they love. Their loss is through death or impending death, and yet they must function in a world of joy and festivities. They hear repetitive phrases at checkouts telling them to "Have a good Christmas", or wishing them a "Merry Christmas" at a time when their world is falling apart.
Some churches and organizations have a special ceremony to acknowledge "Blue Christmases" where people can go and share their sorrow in a safe and understanding environment.
The world cannot stop around them. Store clerks cannot foresee their pain. What we can do, when faced with someone's pain in the midst of our joy, is to simply say, "I'm sorry". Perhaps in those few words, we are a part of God's answer to what they ask of Him. We can acknowledge their pain and let them know we care. By our actions we demonstrate how Christ's love may work through us to begin to ease their pain.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to remember those for whom this is a painful and difficult time of year. Help us to be understanding of their reactions and of their needs. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Sunday, January 26, 2025 – In Asia — Pray for wisdom for my team and me. We started going through weekly coaching with an organization which teaches us how to use social media as a means of sharing the good news. Pray for God's leading as we put this into practice and encourage those who follow our website to start meeting in person and studying the Bible together. I am thankful for their vision for in-person discipleship. Pray the Lord will bless many other ministries through this organization.
Child custody: "January 23, 2025: Urgent prayer request: please pray for a young friend Tessa who has court dates..." 
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Thank you, Mary, for today’s devotion.
Blessings and Merry Christmas,
(Québec)
Hi Mary!
Your devotional is bang on! Thank you for the prophetic and pastoral reminder!
Thanks for this compassionate devotional. We are finding this for Friday, the anniversary of our son’s death from cancer.
Bless you for this difficult theme,
(BC)
Thank you for writing this timeless devotion.
Not just for a blue Christmas.
Thinking of others and ourselves,
And of Christ.
Blessings.
Good morning, Mary,
This is a very important message at this time. We never know what someone else is experiencing and we need to be supportive. Thanks for sharing a message from 1998 which is still very relevant today. Blessings.
Good morning, Mary.
Thank you, this is so true….people do not know the pain someone may be going through so the cheerful greeting is painfully received. May we not be caught up in the occasion so that we can shine God’s love and comfort to others. Thanks again and have a Blessed Christmas.
Once again, thank you for sharing this sensitive and timely devotional with us. With multiple deaths in previous months and for many years afterward, the Christmas of 1990 was just such a time for our family. Let us pray for those who suffer such losses, but especially now for those who attempt to carry on throughout the strife and aftermath of war. Oh Lord God have mercy. Amen and amen.
Hi Mary,
Great devotional! Our church did a special service Sunday afternoon, and it was so well done. Our new minister is so down to earth and very Christ centered. The funeral directors are away with their daughter who just had a heart transplant!!! A wonderful miracle and we are all praying for total healing!!
Your devotional writing, Mary, brought back heartfelt memories to me today as my beloved sister-in-law passed away on Christmas Day, a few years ago. Yes, Christmas can be a very joyous, festive time but there are certain times that things happen in life that cause us a change of activity. There are life happenings we have to face but we need be grateful that our loving Lord is ever there to hear our pleas and console us. His grace and mercy give us abundant feelings of peace when we call on Him.
Blessings for having written this devotional several years ago but it still holds much meaning today.
Thank you Mary, blessings.
Thank you, Mary. This is something we don’t often recognize at Christmas and a good reminder to do so.