It is easy to understand why people can become depressed around the holidays. The time period from Thanksgiving through New Years Day should be several weeks of joyous celebration with friends and family. But too often when the loss of someone close has occurred in the recent past, that is all the family member can think of: the fact that their loved one is gone.

This was my first Thanksgiving and will be my first Christmas without my wife Heather. Thanksgiving was made somewhat easier because I am blessed with wonderful family on my side and on her side. I had Thanksgiving day with my immediate family and then saw her brothers Aeric, Marc, and Chad Younge (along with their wives and children) a day later. Just like my side of the family, her brothers made the time easier for me by being kind, thoughtful, and going out of their way to be understanding. No doubt the emotional blow that Christmas will bring will be lessened by family members as well.

Yet there are many who have no immediate family and no close friends and sit alone on the holidays wishing the day had never come. It is those people who desperately need to be reached. For as long as I can remember, my grandparents George and Betty Colton have been having people over to their home on Thanksgiving Day. These are usually people who don’t have anyone to be with and would otherwise be sitting completely alone. What an example I have been blessed with by having grandparents who reach out to others in Christian love - may we all do the same to those who are hurting this holiday season.

As an additional note, today - December 1, 2006 - is the day for Heather’s memorial website to be up and running. Simply go to the Bio page of this website and scroll to the bottom for the login area. If you are reading this column and do not have the username and password, please feel free to email me for that. May God bless you and all of the lives Heather touched as you enjoy memories of her life.