We lived with it for a lot of years – decades of years.
It
was something that we both experienced, individually in our own individual
ways, and together collectively as husband and wife.
A deep depression would seize us.
There was no avoiding it. There were no work-arounds for it.
The only thing that we could do was live with it until it ran its seasonal course
and lifted. The depression would set in days before Thanksgiving and lift after
Christmas.
It was a hard season every year. We knew it was coming and
accepted it as a normal part of life. We always did the best we could to muddle
our way through the holiday season and somehow managed to maintain a few
degrees of holiday decorum for the sake of status quo.
Holiday depression is real.
This holiday season, for many, is not a season of joy. Some
are affected by it more seriously than others. Some are able to hunker down,
lick their wounds, and muddle their way through. Some sedate their way through.
Some despair to the degree that they see suicide as the only remedy for their
despair. Those unaffected by holiday depression really have no clue what it is
like to experience it.
Something has happened to us this year.
We were not consciously seeking it and did not notice it
when it happened. Here we are this deep into the holiday season and neither of
us are suffering the debilitating effects of the holiday depression that we
have lived with for all these years. We only realized it a few days ago and
consider it a miracle of healing in our lives.
I am reminded of the occasion when Jesus cleansed the ten lepers.[1]
Their cleansing (healing) was not on the spot and instantaneous. Christ told
them to “Go show yourselves to the
priests.” The lepers departed and “as
they went they were cleansed.”
Somewhere, somehow, some "as we went" healing grace has been dispensed
into our lives and for this we say Deo
Gratias – Thanks be to God.
In saying our Deo
Gratias for this miracle in our lives, we also pray for people everywhere
suffering from the effects of holiday depression. We want to encourage you. We
want you to know that you are not alone in your suffering. Others are suffering
with you. Others understand your suffering. Christ understands your suffering.
Our Blessed Mother understands your suffering.
There is hope - though in hope we may have to persevere
through suffering.
Gracious Mary, Mother of our Redeemer, said yes to the will
of God and received Christ into her womb.
We too, when we respond affirmatively to the will of God,
receive Christ into the womb of our being and begin our life of faith. Our life
of faith is every bit a journey where we often fail and fall but are constantly
striving to rise again.
Gracious Mother of
our Redeemer, forever abiding
Heavens gateway,
and star of ocean
O succour the
people,
Who, through
falling, strive to rise again.
Thou Maiden who
barest thy holy Creator,
To the wonder of all
nature;
Ever Virgin,
after, as before thou receivedst that Ave from the mouth of Gabriel;
Have compassion on
us sinners.[2]
[1]
Luke 17:11-19
[2] Alma
Redemptoris, Composed by Herman Contractus (Herman the Cripple), 1013 - 1054
No comments:
Post a Comment