This Holiday Season is Different!

While I usually try to keep my Holiday messages all about having a festive holiday full of cheer, this year I want to take a more serious tone. It’s been a hard two years for all of us. In some ways, I’d argue that 2021 has been even harder than 2020. Most of us thought the pandemic would be under control or gone by now, not spawning new variants. Most of us thought life would be back to normal, not laboring under the burden of new and ongoing challenges and widespread personal losses.

But then again, maybe the holiday season is the perfect time to be talking about this. More than ever, this is a time we need to be showing each other grace. So, in the spirit of the season, I want to recognize and speak to those of us who may be struggling under the difficult and sometimes devastating conditions we have found ourselves. Facing COVID-19 and all its myriad variants; spiking crime; lives lost to mental illness and substance abuse; and more – many of us have been facing personal challenges, and all of us are facing shared challenges, that can overwhelm our ability to counter and defeat issues. This has been a tough year, and none of us should be afraid to ask for help and take steps to care for ourselves and our loved ones.

I can only share my own experience and, with the aid of experts in this space, you may find some of the following suggestions helpful, as I have.

Be honest with yourself. If you’re struggling, it’s worth taking a careful and honest inventory of your life. Start by asking, “What am I doing now that is harmful to me that’s new or different since March 2020?” The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, I know. Believe me, I know. But it doesn’t have to control us. If you’re engaging in harmful habits or behaviors, now’s the time to face them and resolve to act.

Reach out for accountable help. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental illness, depression, or substance abuse, ask for help. Engage with a resource, organization, or person that can and will both support you and hold you accountable. Trusted loved ones can listen and offer emotional support, while helping you stay safe. If you’re not sure where to turn, start with a crisis counselor. They’ll listen with compassion and offer guidance. MentalHealth.gov has resources that can help.

Get vaccinated. The hard truth is that the people who are ending up in the hospital and dying at higher rates than the general population are the unvaccinated. I know many people are skeptical of the vaccines, and I don’t want to be insensitive, but I am frustrated. I don’t need the government’s science to convince me. I just need to look at the obituaries notices online and in the newspapers every day. The best way to increase your own, your family’s, and our whole community’s chances to survive and see an end to this pandemic is vaccination. Try vaccines.gov to find one.

Help your neighborhood stay safe. Join the town watch (or start one), get to know your neighbors, educate kids about bullying, initiate a buddy system, share tips about security camera systems, and get to know the local police offices by name who are assigned to your neighborhood. Being actively involved in your community is the best way to keep yourself and everyone around you safe from crime and community risks. National Neighborhood Watch has resources to get you started.

I know this is some heavy stuff to talk about in the holidays, and I want you to know that I am holding each and every one of you reading this message in my heart during this season. Together, in community, we can hold each other up and lend each other our strength. As I wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with peace and God’s grace, I am also praying for all of you to have your burdens lifted and your hearts lightened. In that spirit, from my family to yours, I sincerely wish Happy Holidays.

I look forward to sharing a New Year’s message with you next week!