Past the presents, the tree, and the pageantry of the Christmas season there lies an underlying sense of togetherness that comes from spending time with family and friends. If we’re mindful of these times, we can slow things down for a second and live in the warmth of the moment.
Yet, for some residents of the community the joy of the holiday season can also serve as a somber reminder of those who they’ve loved and lost; a reminder of those who are not there to enjoy these precious moments with.
But for a few brief hours this past week, Bartholomew Funeral Home opened its doors to the community to come together and celebrate the lives of those they lost and find comfort and strength in others at their Blue Christmas remembrance.
For a few brief hours, the true meaning of Christmas shined through: family.
“Christmas is not about the gifts,” Robert Holland of Bartholomew said. “Christmas is about being together, and it’s about family. That’s why we are here, because of family.”
The experience was as moving as it was symbolic of our own emotions and vulnerabilities. Strangers lined the seats laid upon the room in rows, and when asked to speak, at first were quiet. Yet, once the first family came up to remember a loved one lost, many others followed suit, unloading cathartic tributes to those who had touched their lives.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came here tonight, but I knew I had to come,” said one attendee. “And it feels good to come up and here and do this, and share these memories.”
It was the sentiment echoed by many who came up to speak that day, a feeling of uncertainty to let go of the sadness and finally focus on the special moments that made their loved ones, loved. But as Alice Kyle of Bartholomew reminded us all at the night’s end, the holidays are the perfect time to live in the warmth of the moment, but also in the beautiful moments of the past.
“Holidays can make you feel like you’ve taken one step forward and three steps back in your healing journey. But special days are just that, special, and we can take these times to bring back all the tender and joyful memories of those we have loved.”