5 Ways to Honor and Acknowledge Your Loved One During the Holidays

In this season of gratefulness and celebration, I personally am trying really hard not to let the pandemic elections and just world chaos steal my spirit of joy. I think we all can agree that 2020 has been a year, like no other, especially a year of profound losses, job loss, loss of health, loss of personal relationships, loss of the ability to socially interact with each other, and of course the loss of loved ones. My dad passed away in May of this year and it will be my first holiday season without him. I’m such a huge grief memory advocate and I truly believe in honoring the memory of our loved ones. For me, it shows the depth of my love for that person. Not in a sad, morbid way, but more in a way of joyful remembrance. So as you gather virtually or in-person and you want to acknowledge the memory of your bereaved loved one, I’d like to share five ways that we can be grateful and yet acknowledge and honor those who are no longer with us.

1. Get Quiet – Have a moment of silence in honor of your loved one.

2. Cook a Favorite – Prepare your loved ones, favorite meal or dish, and serve it at the holiday dinner.

3. Laugh – Have family members share funny stories or sayings of your loved one.

4. Light Your Love – Light a candle in memory of your loved one and have it as the centerpiece at your holiday table.

5. Get Musical – play or sing your loved ones favorite song or music, or watch their favorite TV show or movie.

If you’re feeling sad during the holidays, it’s okay. It’s really okay. Everyone’s grief path is different. If you’re at the holiday dinner, you can quietly excuse yourself and find a place to be alone and have your moment. I truly believe that we all should honor what we’re feeling in that moment. So have your moment, or moments, and keep moving forward. As we deal with this year of loss, I’m grateful. I’m grateful for the love of family that I know. And I’m grateful for the love that I’ve known from family members who’ve left me. I always try to wrap myself in those precious memories with the spirit of joy and remembrance, especially on those days and nights when I’m feeling sad or even when I’m feeling lonely. My ultimate goal is to always wrap myself in the only true love that I really know, which is the love of God—for God is love. Enjoy a safe, happy holiday season! Even through all of the loss and pain and sadness, treasure every moment that you get to spend with the ones that you love. Always remember the love.