by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
In 1957, Elvis Presley recorded his version of the song “Blue Christmas.” Though the tune is most often associated with him, it was originally recorded by Doye O’Dell in 1948. The lyrics were written by Jay W. Johnson while traveling on his commuter train from his home in Connecticut to New York City. He had been writing radio jingles and was inspired by some seasonal hits like Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” A few other country artists covered the song in the 50s until Elvis took ownership of the tune. He even started decorating Graceland with blue Christmas lights. According to one of Elvis’s backup singers, Millie Kirkham, he reportedly didn’t even want to record the song initially. When they first walked into the Hollywood studio to record it, Presley said, “Let’s just get this over with.” Some of the musicians who played on the song didn’t believe the studio would even release the song.
Years later we know that the song itself was a Top 15 pop hit in its time, and now gets almost as much annual play around Christmastime as Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which was recorded when Lee was only thirteen years old!
At just 2:07, “Blue Christmas” is a very short song, but it tells a tale of unrequited love during the holidays.
“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you,
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree,
Won’t be the same, dear, if you’re not here with me.
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And when those blue snowflakes start fallin’,
That’s when those blue memories start callin’.
You’ll be doin’ alright with your Christmas of white,
But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas.”
Loneliness at Christmas
According to the National Library of Medicine, half of all adults today feel lonely a fair amount of time. Loneliness can really take its toll on our emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. And the holidays tend to magnify this loneliness. While it is a time of joy and celebration for many people, sometimes others’ mirth and merriment can highlight for someone all that they don’t have in their own life—due to the recent passing of a spouse, parent, or child; a job loss; a recent divorce; a medical diagnosis; or financial insecurity. And, our enemy Satan loves using any of these situations to pile on to already existing anxiety and depression in a person’s life.
Madelaine Cabrera has written a poem entitled, “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay . . . on Christmas.” A few of those lines read,
“Christmas is tough
If you’ve lost someone dear,
Your heart yearns for their presence,
The thought of them to just be here.
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Sometimes it’s not easy,
For sure it’s not okay,
Let’s take tiny steps forward
To each and every day.”
Perhaps this describes your journey this season, or that of someone you know. Several years ago, a pastor I once worked with took his own life on January 2, just one day after a New Year had begun. He had been a leader in the church and other organizations for many years, and had battled some mental struggles for quite some time. But, how many people in his life really understood how alone he felt? Coming on the heels of a dark and lonely Christmas season, he just couldn’t face the prospect of living another year.
Bringing Comfort at Christmas
This time of the year can be a tough time for lonely people as they reminisce about special days from the past, missing relationships and happier times, feeling left out. The darkness weighs heavily on their hearts. Are there people you know in your neighborhood, your school, your community, and your church who might be struggling during this season? How can you walk alongside someone who may be experiencing a “Blue Christmas”? Little things can really mean a lot during this month. Send them an encouraging text, letting them know you are praying for them. Give them a call, pay them a visit, invite them to come sit with you in church or to eat a meal with your family. Take them out to an event or a meal, or bring a meal to them. Acknowledge their loss and their grief, though you don’t know exactly how they’re feeling. Give them room to accept or graciously decline your invitation, but don’t let that stop you from reaching out to them.
Immerse your mind and your heart in this truth—Jesus was born into this world to be “God with us!” Though we all may experience some tough days, followers of Jesus have hope because Emmanuel is present with us in our darkest, loneliest moments. Seven hundred years before Messiah was born the prophet Isaiah described God’s constant love for his children, and these words can still bring comfort to us today:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:1, 2, ESV).
Perhaps you heard about this scene that took place several years ago. A nativity scene had been erected in a church yard. During the night, a creature came across the scene. An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. The dog chose baby Jesus and his manger filled with hay as his comfortable spot for lying down. In those moments when we feel lonely and abandoned, we need to follow the example of this dog (that happened to be a shepherd!) and curl up in Jesus’ lap for comfort.
The church we are part of is here to love and care for you, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Please reach out to someone when you need to. May God’s ever-constant love envelop you this season. He sees. He hears. He cares. Emmanuel, God with us!