I’ve had my Christmas tree and decorations up since Halloween (yes, you read that correctly).

But I still cannot believe that Christmas is on our doorstep. 

That being said, I also cannot believe that COVID-19 has kept us in most of this year, and I’ve been working remotely since March.

The passing of time is such an intriguing thing. Moments can stand still, and minutes can feel like days. Hours can pass like seconds, and a year can fly in the blink of an eye.

As a child, it took forever for December 25th to land on the calendar, and the end of the school year couldn’t come fast enough.

As an adult, we are baffled by the fact that we were 21 yesterday and woke up 51 today—30 years pass so quickly that we hardly recognize our aging soul staring back at us in the mirror. Girl, that wrinkle fairy has been coming around!

This year has been plagued by a plethora of complexities and hardships for all—coronavirus, political upheaval, civil unrest, and limitations placed on socialization. We’ve had to visit virtually and physically distance ourselves from those who mean so much to us.

The loss of a gesture as simple as the touch of a hand or a hug from a loved one is something we now know was taken for granted—until the year 2020. On top of this, I’ve known many who have had people stolen from their lives for other reasons—heart attacks, suicide, complications from surgery, tragic accidents, and more.

Let’s face it; there aren’t many, if any, who are sad to see 2020 go.

Most of the time, I’m the silver lining girl who seeks the good in every bad, who looks for the lessons we can learn from all difficult experiences, and who finds something to be grateful for every day.

But the reality is, there is no silver lining for some right now. Life has knocked them down this year, and they may not be able to see their way back up.

People have lost jobs, and many have lost multiple jobs that they needed to work in order to make ends meet. Children are attending school on Zoom while parents juggle demanding careers, all working together from home. Healthcare workers and first responders working tirelessly on the front lines. 

Small businesses have been forced to shut down, some temporarily—some for good. Many are isolated, lonely, and sad this holiday season. There are also many who wonder if it is worth waking up tomorrow and have stopped summoning the will to go on.

For some, Christmas is a time of great joy and happiness; they spread their cheer and goodwill everywhere they go. But this Christmas, even those folks may have stopped decking the halls and jingling those bells. May we be reminded of this.

May I make one wish this Christmas Eve that I hope we can all make come true:

Let us not forget those who are struggling this holiday season. For those individuals, this is not a time of cheer and warmth. “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas” may not fit the bill this year. 

May we remember to be gentle with our words, sensitive with our greetings, and attuned to other’s needs.

Whether you are religious or not, the lyrics of this timeless song are sure to resonate.

There are angels among us. 

May you and I be one of them.

Angels Among Us

“Oh, I believe there are angels among us

Sent down to us from somewhere up above

They come to you and me in our darkest hours

To show us how to live, to teach us how to give

To guide us with the light of love

When life held troubled times and had me down on my knees

There’s always been someone there to come along and comfort me

A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helpin’ hand

A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand

And ain’t it kind of funny that at the dark end of the road

Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope”

~