I wrote CLEAR AS ICE for those whose faith falters when they go through the pain of losing a loved one. In the story, Ethan abandons his belief after his mother’s death. The loss of a loved one is difficult for anyone but in Ethan’s case there was no one else to share his sorrows. 

I know how devastating the loss of a loved one can be. My brother died at the age of twenty-five a few days before Christmas. I was twenty-four. Until that day, I had never experienced such a deep well of grief. But along with my parents, my younger sisters, and my brother’s wife, I went through a black pall of sorrow in an inconsolable blur that holiday.

After the funeral, we exchanged the gifts we had bought for each other before my brother’s death. Despite the tragedy, none of us lost our faith or hated God afterward. We shared the loss and consoled ourselves with good memories. Though my brother was no longer with us, we treasured the hope that we would see him again. While subsequent Christmases were tinged with sad moments, we always rejoiced in the season.

After all, Christmas is a celebration of God’s great gift to all of us, giving us an unshakeable promise that we can cling to no matter what happens in this life.

The heartbreak of loss is difficult to bear, especially during the holidays when families get together. But we can garner strength from each other. There can still be joy in the times ahead. God’s blessings will continue to shower down upon us because He loves us.

Penelope Marzec