Christmas Traditions

[deedee]

Since losing my son, I've started a couple of new traditions to honor his memory. The holidays are still difficult, but I find it helps a little to include Jason in our family celebration. His memory very much lives on in all of our hearts.

I still hang his stocking, one he's had since a small child, and write a letter every year to tuck inside.

There's a special angel, bought in his memory, that hangs on our tree every year.

And we have a candle lighting on Christmas Eve to remember him and also my dad.

What do others do to honor their loved ones at Christmas? I would love to hear about your traditions.

love, peace, and blessings ~

deedee


Memory Candles

As we light these four candles in honor of you, we light one for our Grief, one for our Courage, one for our Memories, and one for our Love.

This candle represents our Grief. The pain of losing you is intense. It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.

This candle represents our Courage – to confront our sorrow, to comfort each other, to change our lives.

This light is in your Memory – the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry with each other, the silly things you did, the caring and joy you gave us.

This light is for the light of Love.

As we enter this holiday season, day by day we cherish the special place in our hearts that will always be reserved for you. We thank you for the gift your living brought to each of us. We love you.

~From Holiday Help: Coping for the Bereaved, by Sherry Gibson, B.S., R.N. and Sandra Graves, Ph.D.

[Wolfstarr]

(((deedee)))

What a lovely remembrance of your dear loved ones...

We also light candles and have a silent moment, accepting their presence with us as we know they are.
I also have adopted a "Cardinal" as a symbol of my granddaughter, Mya...we have a beautiful ornament of a pretty red cardinal on a tree branch, reminding us of her presence during the holidays...
Other ornaments are sentimental of Christmas's past and remind us of days with our departed loved ones, in a joyous, tender way.

I love the candle prayer you posted.
Bless you and yours deedee. I think of you and Jason so very often...
Peace

[Josie]

I love that Deedee. This last year has been a blur but this
month I lit candles everyday here at home and placed them in front of two angels that say "HOPE" and "FAITH". And I went to the cemetary
everyday and lit a candle. As long as I'm alive I will have a
candlelight vigil on Aaron's anniversary.
I'm still looking for that perfect ornament.

Love to you and yours Deedee always.

Merry Christmas everyone.

[deedee]

(((wolfie & josie)))

Thanks so much for sharing. I've probably lit a thousand candles since Jason's been gone, but I find such peace and comfort in this small ritual and I think it does help us feel closer to them.

Wolfie, I remember the redbird for your darling Mya and I think it helps too to have these symbols that remind us of them. For me, it's the full moon and there was a glorious one in a clear blue sky when I awoke this morning.

Josie, your angels sound beautiful and I think it's so important for us to keep our hope and faith alive. I believe we will see our beloved sons again one day.

May you both know peace and joy this holiday season.

my heart to yours

[indigo]

My candles are lit, I have so many that my home is filled with peaceful light and love.

[greeteachday]

There are a couple of things we've done for the 2 Christmases since loosing Kristen. We have a small live tree at her grave site with solar lights and a few horse and rider type ornaments (she was an English rider and with her tail-less wonder horse Red competed in many jumper divisions) We have a framed collage of pictures and we light a candle by it on Christmas morning when we open gifts...it's like having her with us. And finally, each year she loved the tradition of getting gold chocolate coins in her stocking, so we leave them Christmas Eve at her tomb stone.

(I guess it is now a tradition too that my Christmas avatar here is my favorite Christmas picture of Kristen and her big sister. She adored Ninja Turtles as a little girl and she loved those slippers. Both girls look so happy with their eyes filled with a Christmas twinkle)

[deedee]

(((greet)))

Your traditions sound wonderful and meaningful ... I love the gold coins story and the sweet picture of your girls.

love & blessings ~

deedee

[barb dwyer]

after four marriages and uncountable moves - I only have one photo of my parents. at christmas - I put the pic (in a frame ) under the tree, or on a table near it and have two pretty candles beside it.

WHen my mother died ( I was like twenty or so) I had her gold watch and my father's mason ring (it had a broken stone) melted and molded into a ring that is unique, and has hardly been off my finger in twenty years.

I couldn't wear Mother's gold watch. (she was TINY)
I couldn't wear Dad's mason ring.

So I had them put together ... into something I could wear that was with me always.

[deedee]

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

So I had them put together ... into something I could wear that was with me always.

What a wonderful idea (((Barb))) ... I'm sure that ring has brought you much comfort thru the years.

[Dee_Sober4today]

I'm sorry for all your pain. I've not lost anyone close to me and I don't know HOW I would cope. You all are courageous...so courageous.
TY for sharing your heartfelt stories...
Much Love,
Denise