Very few people know what this day signifies to our family.  Of those that do, even fewer acknowledge it.  I am well aware, and have been for years now, that the world does not stop for our broken hearts.

People care even less today than they did before about their fellow man.  How sad!   In a world of billions of people that are taught that we need each other and just how important community is, only a small number will let you into their circle.  Community is hard!   Few take the time to show others that they care.

When you’re searching for that special gift to give someone this holiday season, consider this.  You can bless someone’s heart and life not by the money you spend but by simply caring for them, showing concern and compassion for someone. You can include them!  Take their heart into your hands and shield it and protect it while it is in your care.  Give the gift of friendship.  Reach out and touch someone’s heart with your own.

All of the above mentioned “gifts” are FREE gifts that we could very easily give to others.  How many choose to do this?   It is discouraging that the greatest gift we have to give is often kept to ourselves.  People do not have time any more to show others that they care.   It is heart breaking in this day and age that when people need others more than EVER before that they, instead, feel alone and isolated.

Be the gift.  Be the encouragement.  Be the one that stops to take time to love on someone else.   Step outside of yourself and your comfort zone a little and think of others that may be hurting, then be intentional on sharing the loving kindness that you have in your heart with them.

Just because someone has a smile on their face does not mean that happiness dwells within them.  They could be, and often times are, putting on a mask that says to the world that they have it all together, that they are happy, that they are loving life.  Meanwhile, they could be dying inside, wondering what their purpose is in this life.  They could be filled with such overwhelming sadness, hurt, and pain, but with the smile, no one would ever guess what was truly going on behind the smile.   Some hide it so well.    Some reading this have been there.  Some that are reading this are there right this very minute.  Some have perfected the mask wearing with the most convincing of smiles.  I know because I am one of the many mask wearers out there.

Today as I remember my sister’s birthday, I will do something to celebrate her life; the very life that blessed mine for 32 years while she was on this earth.  I will remember with great joy the times that we shared together.  I will appreciate the gifts she gave to me; gifts that touched my life and heart; gifts that did not cost a thing as she gave them freely from her heart.

So far today I have had TWO people acknowledge what day it is for our family.  Two.  Although many more know, few care to reach out, to take the time, to acknowledge with us, to show their love on a day when our hearts are hurting because when we should be celebrating with my sister, we can’t because she is in Heaven.

Yesterday when I was hurting, I chose not to wear a mask but to instead reach out to a few people that I thought would receive me with open arms and would love me through this.   Knowing the way the world is today, I should not have been surprised or even hurt by what happened yesterday.  But, I was.  It takes soooooo much strength and courage to admit that you’re hurting, that you’re struggling.  It takes a brave person to share their heart with another and ask for loving kindness in return.   When we build up these walls and often times just want to hide behind them, it is hard to tear those walls down and allow someone to see the pain inside.  Then when they do and people do not respond at all … it compounds the pain they were already feeling.  I was a member of a “support” group that was supposedly for the sole purpose of being “there” for your grieving heart after losing a loved one.  You know what?  I posted in that closed group admitting that I was having a hard time that day.  I shared my heart, and do you know that not ONE person in that mega large group of people would take the time to tell me that they were thinking of me?  NOT ONE!   No one responded.  Period!  I reached out, and NO ONE was “there” from that “support” group.  I posted in another secret group specifically for women of faith, and they responded with such love and care offering prayers and their support, which was appreciated more than they will ever, EVER know!    I reached out to an email friend who did not respond until this morning with a hurried “love to give this the attention it deserves but I’m busy with …”  Imagine the sting of that response from someone that proclaimed to love me and be there for me.   But it is the world we live in today.   I reached out to a lady that I have just had the pleasure of becoming more acquainted with who showed the most compassion and love for my hurting heart.   She loved on me.   She let me know that she truly cared.  She touched my heart with her own in the beautiful words that she shared with me.  She took the time.   She showed that she cared about me, about my pain.   She spoke beautiful words over me.   She genuinely cared!   Tears streamed down my face as I was greeted with such love!

Take the time, people!   It does not cost a thing to love on someone and show them that you care.  I only wish more people had done this when my sister was still on this earth.   You see, my sister took her own life.   When my sister felt alone, in her deepest, darkest depression, when she felt no one else was there for her, I know that my God was with her.

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.