We have all lost someone.

Whether it be by sickness and death or by broken friendships and relationships, this Christmas will never be exactly like ones in the past; someone will be missing.

I, for one, have lost many people. Some are rejoicing in Heaven and others are still living their lives as if nothing happened. Through it all, I have learned to still go on with Christmas as normal. It is never easy to celebrate under different circumstances, but it becomes a little easier when the idea that change is good is accepted.

In the case of grief, the holidays are hard. It has been said that Christmas may be the hardest time of the year, as everyone is allowed to come together to celebrate Jesus' birth, except a special love one that lost their life.

As life goes on, friendships are broken and relationships are shattered. We find ourselves with a different group of friends and in a relationship with another person as the previous year's memories are not welcome.

When we really think about it, though, we realize that nothing is the same, not even us. It is hard to understand, but every person is for a specific time in our life.

In life, we meet someone or we have the privilege to share a heritage with someone that holds a special place in our heart. When the time for them to be a constant in our life is up, we are left alone---so it seems.

When a love one passes and we realize they will not be at the dinner table come Christmas Day, tears come. When the thoughts of past friends become few and far between, but we hit moments where memories flood our mind, heartache becomes evident. How can we agree that is it just a part of life? How can we be okay with the harsh reality that life changes daily?

God, the Master Author, has each detail worked out so perfectly that He knows exactly when someone's work on earth is done. Therefore, He knows when their work and place in our life is over. He knows when we no longer need that friend or partner. He realizes that we have gained all positive attributes possible to have from that person.

Loss is hard and Christmas will be hard because the year has been full of loses, but it is all a part of His plan.