The place where health dwells

is at the center

of each individual.

The Quiet Hours of Christmas Eve

     In the quiet hours of Christmas Eve morning, I enjoy some precious moments of solitude. I ponder the wonder and awe of the approaching event that we commemorate and the profound memories that the season evokes.

     I am especially grateful for family and friends...and dwell in these quiet moments with the memories of those both recently and long ago gone. I revel in the power of memory to enliven the essence of the enduring spirit of our dead. We come, gradually, to increasingly appreciate that while the connection never ends, it changes over time: our grief transforms the searing pain of loss into the joy held in memories throughout life.

     In dwelling with the nature of these changing connections, I am thankful for what was, appreciate what is and look toward what is yet to be. Holidays remind us of the pain of loss; grief, the constant companion of all loss, guides us through the transformative process and so, in the midst of our pain, we reach for moments of joy.

     With family and friends, join in the festivities and in the celebration

 of the holy day within your faith tradition. Spend a moment in remembering what was, honor those who have died by living in wholeness the beauty of the present moment and, most important, wrap yourself in the warmth of connection, living and dead, and look toward what is yet to be. For those whose grief is recent, openly give expression to your pain and embrace the possibilities that lie within you.

     In conclusion, garner the message in this thought:

          Grief...is but moments across a lifetime,

          Memories...the sweetness throughout a lifetime.

     As my Christmas Eve morning carries me forward, I pause to wish everyone a joyous holiday season and a blessed, peaceful Christmas day....and a most fulfilling New Year.

Until the next time,Barbara