Holidays and Heaven

The Holidays make me think about Heaven. More specifically – the people in heaven.

What is heaven like during the holidays?

What is going on up there while we break bread, dance, sing, laugh and cry with the people we love. Are they doing the same in heaven too? My mind wonders how it all connects, and I just can’t wait to see how it will all unfold.

But if I am being honest, holidays for me are bittersweet, with an aching heart. You smile and give thanks for the ones you have, while longing to see the ones you have lost. Replaying the clips of the holidays you used to have with that living soul who is no longer here. It hurts. I know.

Ways to Cope.

The purpose of this blog is to help you cope this holiday season with that tiny hole you feel like you have in your heart. For me, it’s a dad sized hole missing from my heart. I hope these words help you, to live this holiday season with ridiculous JOY. Yes, even with your wounded heart.

Think about something you did with that person who is in heaven. Something that you remember, because it was so fun, and you felt so loved. Take the time to write it down. It doesn’t even have to be big or grand.

For example; around this time of year, my father would play Christmas Music super loud and have me and my sister help him decorate the house with lights and all the Christmas decorations our family had acquired over the years. He would sing to us. He would dance with us. He would cook for us. He would make us laugh and smile. So simple. Yet, it filled my heart.

Here is what you do with those memories. You give them to the ones still here, with you. You love on them. You dance with them. You sing with them. You make NEW memories, while spreading the old ones. You give your time to enjoying the things that matter in life.

The tears are still going to come. Let them come. Allowing yourself to grieve a love that was loss is evidence that at some point, you were blessed to have had such love. It’s okay to question God and wonder why he allowed such a beautiful love to exist, to then just take it away.

What does God want you to do?

I have been open and clear about my faith and who I give all my victories to, because if I were the one calling all the shots...girl, I don’t know where I would be today. Honestly and truly.

As I began brainstorming about how I would piece together this blog, God told me he wants you to remember him.

That’s it.  

God wants you to remember him when you feel alone. When you feel like no one would ever understand how you feel during your hardest moments throughout this holiday season, remember him. Remember he has a plan for your life. Remember that it is good. Remember that Jesus too also experienced loss. Remember Jesus wept, suffered, and experienced heart ache. Remember how Jesus too asked why. Remember that your life here on earth is like a mist.

The bible says in James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

I know you want to know why God does the things he does and why he allowed sorrow into your world, but the truth is, it wouldn’t make a difference and you probably couldn’t even handle it. Instead, focus on making your mist count! Like every bit of vapor - Make it count.

Here is your assignment.

Write down the things you loved so much about…fill in the blank. What were those memories and how did they make you feel? Now turn around and write down some things you can do this holiday season that will also make you feel those things.

What were those feelings? Were they feelings of happiness, belonging, joyfulness, peacefulness, and guidance? Those were feelings I wrote down about how I felt around my father during the holiday seasons.

This year, I will intentionally create memories with each moment I’ve given with my husband and my girls. I hope you will do the same with your loved ones on this holiday season.

This message was created to help you live a life of intention and purpose as you draw closer to God.

With all my love,

Alicia Eve Varela