Today on the Christmas Blog Party, welcome Debra Butterfield, author of Carried by Grace.

She shares some thoughts about facing a single holiday.

And she is giving away a Kindle copy of her book, Carried by Grace. 

Christmas. It’s supposed to be a happy time filled with fun, family, and friends. But for many, it often isn’t.

Single adults may struggle because it’s another Christmas of singleness. Others may be alone because they have no family to share in the holiday. Still others may be experiencing their first Christmas without their spouse, either through death or divorce.

As a divorced woman, I understand the loneliness and depression that can set in when the holidays approach. I understand the horrific wounds life can throw at us because my husband sexually abused my daughter. His crime affected each of my children and me.

But God is in the business of healing and redeeming and did amazing work in our lives (He never does things halfway)!

Photo courtesy of Gregron Photography, © 2014

The truth of Romans 8:28—“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God”—was never truer than it is for my family. My daughter is studying for her master’s degree in counseling and plans to specialize in sexual abuse. I wrote Carried by Grace to minister to moms in the same situation. My 3 children and I have a bond stronger than most families because we fought this battle together with God, and He carried us through the storm. 

If you’re facing a single holiday, here are several ways you can make it less single.

• Create your own fun by inviting other singles or a family to your place to share in Christmas Eve or Christmas Day celebrations. No gift exchange needed. Plan a meal or simply share treats like the Scandinavian kringler below. Play board games, cards, or if there’s snow on the ground have a snowball fight!
• Reach out beyond yourself. Get involved in a local charity and serve the community. Food kitchens are a great place to start. Maybe you can volunteer at a local animal shelter. Acts 20:35 (NKJV) tells us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Serving others gives greater meaning to our lives and truly does make us feel better about our lives.

baking spritz cookies

• If you have children still at home, create a new tradition. One tradition I passed on to my kids was to bake spritz cookies together. They loved pressing out those shaped cookies and then decorating them before I popped them into the oven. Now I share that tradition with my 2 wonderful grandchildren. 
• Invite a single friend to a local Christmas event—a Christmas Eve candlelight service, school Christmas concerts, or other holiday events. Don’t be afraid to attend an event on your own.If you have trusted Jesus for your salvation, remember you are never alone. God is always with you! Ask Him to make His love and presence more tangible to you. If you don’t know Jesus, now is a good time to get acquainted! After all Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Christ. You can start by attending a Christmas Eve service. 

You may be going through a dark time right now, but don’t get stuck there. Step out in faith and trust God. As I shared in Carried by Grace, God will carry you through your valley and bring you to victory. 

Do you have any suggestions for navigating the Christmas season as a single?

~ ~ ~

About Carried by Grace

“My twelve-year-old daughter had put a chef’s knife to her chest and threatened to kill herself. Her step-dad was sexually abusing her. I felt swallowed by darkness — like Jonah in the belly of the whale. This can’t be happening.”

A family member… a friend… someone you know has sexually abused your child. Tumultuous emotions buffet you from all sides. You’re feeling lost and confused. Where do you turn for help? Part memoir, part devotional, author Debra L. Butterfield offers…

•  comfort for your heartache
•  practical guidance for daily needs
•  a biblical path to healing, and
•  encouragement and hope along the way.

Let yourself be Carried by Grace as you journey toward restoration.

Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a Kindle version of Carried by Grace

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway rules: Open to residents of the continental USA. Must be 18 years old to enter. Winners will be chosen at random. 

Winner will be notified by email and have 3 days to respond with a mailing address or book will be awarded to another entrant.

Share this post  with your friends using the buttons below or click HERE to share an invite on Twitter!

Stop by HERE to find the other blog party posts and discover which giveaways are still live.

 Join us on our Facebook Group to get alerts when there is a new giveaway live.

DEBRA L. BUTTERFIELD dreamed of being a writer since she was a pre-teen. She didn’t pursue her dream until she was forty-five years old and began as a junior copywriter with Focus on the Family. In 2006, she stepped into the world of freelance writer. Her magazine credits include CBN.com, Susie (now Sisterhood Magazine), Live, The Vision, and On Course online. She is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, enjoys the outdoors, reading, and crochet work. Debra has three adult children and two grandchildren whom she doesn’t see often enough. Oddly enough, she likes the smell of skunks.

Connect with Debra:   Website   Facebook   Twitter

REMEMBER: After you comment, you must enter the Rafflecopter giveaway above to be eligible to win the Kindle copy of Carried by Grace.