11/27/2025
“Grief doesn’t take a holiday. The empty chairs at our tables remind us of love that endures beyond presence.”
As I sit here, having my coffee and preparing for the chaos of the day, I am reminded that for so many of us, the holidays feel heavy with absence. For some this may be the first holiday season without someone. Being with grief during times of celebration can be a challenging experience. The holidays invite us to gather, to share meals, laughter, and traditions. Yet for many, the season also carries the weight of absence. The empty chairs at our tables are not just furniture, they are symbols of love, memory, and longing. They remind us of voices we no longer hear, hands we no longer hold, and the warmth of presence that now lives only in our hearts.
Grief does not pause for celebration. It sits quietly beside us, sometimes heavy, sometimes tender, always reminding us of the depth of our connections. The holidays can magnify that ache, but they also offer us a chance to honor it. To light a candle for those who are gone. To speak their names aloud. To let their stories ripple through the room like blessings.
In this season, we are invited to hold both truths: the joy of gathering and the sorrow of loss. The fullness of the table and the emptiness of the chair. When we allow grief to be part of the celebration, we create space for compassion for ourselves and for others who carry invisible weights.
May we remember that love is not diminished by absence. It is transformed, carried forward in memory, ritual, and the gentle ways we continue to honor those who are missing. And may we offer ourselves kindness, knowing that grief is not a disruption of the holiday spirit, but a testament to the love that endures.
Much love to you all during this holiday season. As we move through this season, may each of us find space for both joy and sorrow, for memory and presence. Whatever your holiday looks like, whether surrounded by laughter, sitting with silence, or holding tender remembrance, may you feel love wrapping around you. May compassion guide your steps, and may you know you are not alone as you navigate this time in your own way.
Peace and Love,
Julie
