Photo of D.L. Mayfield and family, from her blog
Writer D.L. Mayfield posted a brutally honest Christmas letter on her blog this year; instead of the usual expressions of gratitude and peace, she wrote about her difficult pregnancy, bouts of depression and anxiety, and, ultimately, how the hard year has helped her to finally understand Advent–and Jesus–on a deeper, personal level. The letter resonated with a lot of people; it’s reached an audience
From the blog:
But perhaps the most significant thing is that Jesus is no longer an abstract person, a walking theology, a list of do’s and dont’s to me. This is the year I recognized him as my battered, bruised brother, and I see how he never once left my side.
The entire letter is worth a read; it’s available on her site.
What are your families Christmas letters like? Do you share the news, good and bad, with your loved ones?
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It's a touching and heartfelt letter. I'm grateful that you shared it. I think any of her friends and family members will be grateful as well.
Several years ago, I started doing a holiday letter. I think some of the recipients were shocked when I included the bad with the good. It wasn't the typical holiday "brag" letter- which is to say the holiday letters we receive from time to time that hit you like fingernails screeching on a chalk board.
This year has been a particularly bad year. I'm fortunate that I haven't experienced the financial hardships that the author of this letter faced. But I've attended six funerals. Three for very close friends, all of whom died before their time. My two surviving aunts also gone, and I'll miss them New Year's Day, which I always spent with them. And, my only brother who died way to young, and now won't see his grandchildren grow up.
I don't know that I would share any of that in a letter with anyone if there wasn't a hopeful message that I could attach to it. The author here does a remarkable job with that. She's expressed it exceptionally well, and it mirrors my own feelings. I hope I can do as good a job with it as she has done.