The Nativity of Loss and Grief

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For many homes, the nativity scene is set up each year in its designated spot.  It might be the focal point of the décor or in a less obvious location, where viewers are invited to step aside to reflect quietly as they pause to visit their favorite characters in the Christmas story.

Isn’t it just like God to show up when there is sorrow, death, and loss?  Before we jump to the glorious angels singing, or the sweet bleating of barn animals, let us pause for just a moment to consider Planet Earth.  This place knows two shared-life experiences, birth and death.  “What does that have to do with the Christmas story?” you might ask.  Why would God take on human cells, shaped in an infant’s body and be born into a dying world?  Every character represented in that Nativity scene is a candidate for death.  You my grieving friend, feel this deeply as you live through this Christmas season apart from your loved one. So how does the Nativity comfort our hurting hearts? 

The Grieving Around the Manger

If you are a parent of a child who has died, God knows and understands that.  If your spouse has died, God also knows and understands that.  If your parent has died, this too is understood by the One who loves us most.  Isn’t it plausible the wise men were bereft of one or both parents?  Or maybe the shepherds came to that manger scene with broken hearts of losses unknown to us.  Traditionally, we are taught that Joseph died before Jesus began his public ministry.  Mary eventually experienced the searing agony of watching her son die of crucifixion. And now we recognize that each member in this nativity scene where human residents of Planet Earth who were all acquainted with death, loss, and grief.

What do You See?

The astounding focal point of this scene is of course the Baby Jesus. 

Innocently, and intentionally brought into this world.

Heralded by an angelic choir.

Visited by lowly shepherds.

Worshipped by intelligent strangers from a different culture.

Besides Mary and Joseph, only barn animals witnessed His arrival.  Obscurity shrouded his birth until the magi arrived.  Yet it was part of a masterful solution to our problem of being separated from The God who loves us most.  Before we could even know of our need, The Divine Trio prepared a solution for our broken relationship with Them.  Jesus would be “The Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world.”  And at just the right time, he showed up, unnoticed, yet fulfilling the purpose to die for everyone in that Nativity scene so their death would not remain permanent. 

Does it seem your grief is unnoticed? Is there only a rare visitor? Has isolation robbed you of the normal social and emotional support you need? If Angels could guide shepherds and a star could direct wise men, then I hope you can trust God knows how to send comfort and support to you. It might be different than you expected, but keep your heart’s eyes on that nativity scene and let it fill you with hope that God knows how to supply your need for comfort.

The Hope for Our Hearts

And here we are today, looking into that little scene that might go unnoticed by others this Christmas, but not by us.  That Infant in the crèche is our hope for healing our broken hearts. We can trust the power of His wake-up-trumpet blast that will raise the dead to life into a new world no longer held captive to death.  Linger with me a little longer as we grasp the deep story of the Nativity scene that transitions your heavy grieving heart into hope and anticipation for what is yet to come!

© Karen Nicola/ Comfort for the Day 2020