In the middle of a deliriously happy season for most people, let's take a second and be real.

Life sucks.

Life is a beautiful collaboration of pain and gratitude and, this time of year, most of us find it easy to focus on the gratitude.

But as insane as 2016 was politically, socially, and in the musical world (David Bowie, really?), a lot of families didn't simply watch loss occur on the television.

Many of them felt it in their very homes.

Whether it be the doctor's call that the cancer is back, the dreaded noise of mom and dad fighting again, or the earth shattering news that someone you love isn't coming home, reality isn't on the screen.

It's right in our faces.

So, for those of you who have read this and only felt the realization that you are blessed and now have the urge to hug your loved ones, do it.

But don't only do it today.

Hug them tight every single chance you get.

And if you don't feel like letting go, don't.

Because in the midst of bills and decisions and everything life throws your way, they are your solid ground and they are what truly matters.

Never forget that and don't let them forget it either.

For those of you reading this with tears in your eyes and a crack in your heart, I know.

I know December 25th felt a bit empty this year.

I know it seems strange to smile when the one gift you want will never be under the tree because it's in Heaven.

It seems strange to wrap four presents rather than five.

It seems so odd to not have Grandmaw ask with glee "what did Santa bring you".

And it seems so hard to worship the God of love at a time when such a huge piece of your heart is gone.

But there's a purpose for the pain.

I can't promise you there's some huge cosmic reason why your struggle exists, because only God can see that big of a picture.

But I can promise you this -- the reason it hurts is because love is real.

The reason Christmas feels off is because Christmas isn't about the presents or Santa.

Christmas is about love.

There's a hole in your heart because love lives there.

And love is like matter, it can never be destroyed.

You just have to find a new home for it.

The love of Christmas isn't dependent on who's with you, what your bank account looks like, or where your political standing is.

Christmas is about Christ, and He never changes.

So even though Sunday felt broken and lost, it wasn't.

Because Christ still came, He still sacrificed Heaven for us.

And because of that, I can promise you this -- whatever drained your Christmas is temporary.

The celebration of Christmas belongs to this world; the reality of Christmas belongs to the next.