This challenging year saw friends losing their jobs, exhausting finances, losing loved ones, experiencing sickness, and dealing with the uncertainties brought about by the lockdown.

Is it wrong to not feel happy at Christmas? Should we put on a happy front even if we are feeling miserable?

Here’s a fact – the first Christmas was not merry. Modern day celebrations can be over the top, but if you see how people’s lives were affected and how they responded at Jesus’s birth, it sure was not merry for any of them. Mary surrendered her reputation, Joseph risked ridicule and courted uncertainty, the shepherds left their work and went in search, the wisemen journeyed blindly, the prophet Simeon waited patiently, and babies in Bethlehem were killed brutally.

This season brings in festivities, happy social media posts, loving friends and family, decorated surroundings, but some of us might not be able to relate to it all. On the outside, we cannot go against the tide, and so, go with the flow, but on the inside, it’s not really merry for us as we miss our loved ones, are unable to visit friends or family or maybe do not have anyone to go to. Some of us are conscious not to pile on our misery on friends because it will dampen their celebrations and spoil their moods and so we suffer alone. Is that okay? Is there no hope or joy for us?

“The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” He said, “Come to Me, all those toiling and being burdened, and I will give you rest.” Let’s hang in there and respond to Christ and not the demands of the celebrations.

A not-so-merry Christmas is okay, but having Christmas without Christ can be worse. In pain and in sickness, lets hang on to Christ, the author and finisher of our story.

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Look around to see who among your friends might be feeling down or miserable. Get them to spend time with you without pressurizing them to join the revelries. If you are not feeling so merry and need to talk to someone, we are always available. Please call us on +91 9603693480 or write to us at hello@fotf.in

Emmanuel Sandeep is the founder director of InterBlend Support Services, and is an accredited Leadership and Life Coach. He also heads Focus On The Family India