A Season for Both Tears and Laughter

The holiday season is often wrapped in twinkling lights, cheerful music, and endless reminders to be merry. But beneath the sparkle, many hearts carry something deeper—grief, disappointment, longing, or loneliness.

While the world tells us to choose joy, I’ve learned that sometimes, the most honest place we can stand during the holiday season is holding both joy

and sorrow in the same hands.

Several years ago, addiction led my husband, Scotty, back to jail during the Christmas season. It was one of the hardest years of my life. I remember feeling the weight of it as the holidays approached. My heart ached, and honestly, I didn’t want to celebrate at all. The thought of putting up decorations or going to Christmas parties felt overwhelming. I wanted to retreat and

avoid it altogether. But in that quiet place of pain, God gently spoke to my heart. He reminded me that He was with me—not just in the happy moments but in the hard ones too. I sensed Him inviting me to face the season honestly, not by pretending everything was okay but by allowing Him to meet me right where I was.

So I made a choice. I pulled out the decorations, even when my heart wasn’t fully in it. I decided to attend the Christmas gatherings I wanted to, and I gave myself permission to skip the ones that didn’t feel right that year. Most importantly, I allowed myself to feel all of it—the joy and the grief, the hope and the heaviness. I didn’t have to silence my tears to experience joy, and I didn’t have to shut out joy to honor my grief. Both could exist together.

That Christmas became a sacred reminder that God’s love is relentless. Jesus came into this world not in a palace but in a manger— humble, messy, and real. His arrival wasn’t neat or perfectly staged; it was raw and full of both wonder and uncertainty. And that’s exactly where He meets us too.

The beauty of the Christmas story is that Emmanuel—God with us—steps right into our human experience. He doesn’t wait for us to clean up our emotions or manufacture cheer. His presence is steady in both our laughter and our tears. As Romans 8:38-39 reminds us, nothing can separate us from His love. Not our pain. Not our questions. Not even our mixed emotions during the holidays.

So if this season brings both celebration and sorrow for you, know that you’re not alone. You don’t have to fake joy, and you don’t have to hide your grief. God is big enough to hold it all. His love pursues you relentlessly—through the quiet tears and the loud laughter, through the lonely nights and the warm gatherings.

This Christmas, may you give yourself permission to show up authentically. Let your decorations be both a symbol of hope and a gentle act of faith. Let your celebrations be honest, even if they look different this year. And above all, rest in the truth that Emmanuel has come. His love is

unwavering, steady, and present—right in the middle of it all.

Author: Jennifer Shook is an Inner Healing Mentor, Christian Life Coach, and Speaker who helps women navigate the deep pain of addiction, betrayal, and family crises. She walks alongside those who feel isolated in their struggles—women who love God but feel unseen, shamed, or unable to be real in their church communities. Through inner -healing prayer, mentorship, and authentic conversations, Jennifer creates a safe space where women can process their grief, release control, and rediscover their true identity in Christ. Her mission is to break the silence around struggles the church often avoids while guiding women to break free from religious expectations, striving, and performance— leading them toward true healing, freedom, and restoration. jennifershook.com