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A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas
During the holidays, so many of us can suffer for all kinds of reasons. The magnitude of our weary world weighs on our hearts and minds. We wrestle with chronic pain, broken relationships, shattered dreams, fragile faith, and unexpected losses. Our grief and sorrow feel particularly acute when compared to the festivity and joy everyone else seems to be feeling. More and more churches are acknowledging this fact with "Blue Christmas" services (also called “Longest Night” services) and offering resources to give particular support and comfort to those struggling during the “most wonderful time of the year.”
Kathy Escobar has been leading Blue Christmas experiences at her church for nearly a decade and just experienced her bluest season of all following the sudden death of her son. In A Weary World, Escobar provides twenty-eight daily reflections paired with prayers and practices to honor our struggles during the holidays. Weekly resources make this Advent devotional suitable for group study as well.
Kathy Escobar has been leading Blue Christmas experiences at her church for nearly a decade and just experienced her bluest season of all following the sudden death of her son. In A Weary World, Escobar provides twenty-eight daily reflections paired with prayers and practices to honor our struggles during the holidays. Weekly resources make this Advent devotional suitable for group study as well.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2020
33 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 27, 2020
A Weary World touched my heart as the daily devotions focus on the contrasts of the Christmas season. Kathy Escobar,the author, says it best: “The human experience is filled with struggle and strife. It’s filled with anxiety, fear, shame and doubt. Yet at the same time, it’s also filled with hope, love and faith. Our real stories don’t discount the good and we don’t need to put a “but” at the end of each challenging thing we share to somehow minimize the pain. I do it too. It’s hard to just say, “I am suffering” without adding “but I’m still getting up every day” or “but I’ve got a lot to be thankful for,” or all kinds of words that soften it.
Honoring reality is healthy.” ( from the introduction)
This devotional series is one that I will revisit.
Honoring reality is healthy.” ( from the introduction)
This devotional series is one that I will revisit.
October 5, 2020
Beautifully written this devotional is perfect for either personal or small group use. A wonderful support for all who might be struggling during the Advent/Christmas season.
December 29, 2020
One of the better blue Christmas devotionals that I’ve read. I will now be following Escobar to see the work she does at The Refuge and her other writings.
December 22, 2022
A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas was a title that captured my attention in its publisher’s catalog (Westminster John Knox Press) because it didn’t seem to be a typical Advent devotional book. To be sure, A Weary World is a nice devotional resource but it is also useful for group study, too. The thesis, as should be obvious from the subtitle, is that A Weary World approaches this normally happy and festive season with a message for that larger than-realized minority who feels depression, anxiety, and grief during the holiday season.
Kathy Escobar knows whereof she writes because she lost her eldest son to suicide during this season. As a religious professional, Christmas suddenly became exponentially harder for her to navigate. So, she shares some of the insights that have helped her through the season in hopes that it will help others. The structure of the volume includes four weeks leading up to a Christmas Eve emphasis. However, instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy of Advent, her weeks follow the themes of: 1) Honoring Reality, 2) Practicing Honesty, 3) Embracing Paradox, 4) Borrowing Hope, and a more typical Christmas Eve theme of “God with Us.”
The first week largely recognizes that our usual ideas of Christmas sanitize the fact that “God with Us” means that God experiences the muck and mire of our complex realities. To those with inferiority complexes or feelings of unworthiness, Escobar points out how many of those involved with the first Christmas were unimportant people. She gives readers permission to admit that they are tired and to say, “I don’t know.” Then, she offers some suggestions on acknowledging this complicated reality.
The second week covered the vital area of practicing honesty. In “preparing the way” for experiencing Advent, she urges everyone to express their own voice in the wilderness. And, to be honest, she contends we have to be honest about our anger and express it as per Ephesians 4:26, to admit grief while being aware (as the Psalmist seems to be in Psalm 55:6 in the New Living Translation) “You have kept track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.”, facing fear by acknowledging it since four of the encounters in the Christmas story begin with “Don’t be afraid!”, confronting shame in a safe space, and seeking help in one’s disorientation.
The third week was the richest part of the volume. It was about embracing paradox, knowing that one doesn’t have to be defeated by the emotional whiplash of singing songs of joy while feeling the sting and pain of grief. I particularly liked her phrase: “The essence of the Jesus story is that we rise by descending.” (p. 58) She emphasizes paradox with the lines about the reversal of status from Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1. She notes how we must navigate between Light and Dark, Beautiful and Ugly, Peace and Chaos, Hope and Despair, and Love and Hate without giving up when confronted by any of these extremes. The learning activity for this chapter has a fascinating approach. She offers lists of adjectives and challenges the reader to choose words from the lists to express the current paradox in which they find themselves (pp. 72-73). It’s simple, but eye-opening.
The fourth week was about “Borrowing Hope.” It sounds somewhat cliché, but it isn’t. As human beings, we have to learn how to depend upon each other. When we’re down, we need to borrow hope from God and borrow hope from those around us to be strengthened for the challenges we will face. Perhaps the best advice for those “loaning” hope to those in such dire situations is to “Be interested, not interesting.” (p. 89)
The final part of the book offers some interesting liturgical ideas for use with small groups or congregations with a sense that many are struggling during this holiday season. The book even offers some ideas for “Reflection Stations” with activities to express: grief and loss (collecting tears in a bottle and applying Psalm 55:6), fear (writing the things we fear on a mirror), anger (an ornament-smashing station (with protective gear)) and emotional pain (create your own wailing wall) among others (pp. 111-114).
For me, A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas was useful, but it felt more like a self-help book than a devotional tool. It has worthy quotations, interesting insights, and helpful suggestions, but it is light on scriptural reference and application. I’m glad the book was written and published, but I definitely feel like it could have stronger ties to scripture in general and the Christmas story in particular.
Kathy Escobar knows whereof she writes because she lost her eldest son to suicide during this season. As a religious professional, Christmas suddenly became exponentially harder for her to navigate. So, she shares some of the insights that have helped her through the season in hopes that it will help others. The structure of the volume includes four weeks leading up to a Christmas Eve emphasis. However, instead of the usual Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy of Advent, her weeks follow the themes of: 1) Honoring Reality, 2) Practicing Honesty, 3) Embracing Paradox, 4) Borrowing Hope, and a more typical Christmas Eve theme of “God with Us.”
The first week largely recognizes that our usual ideas of Christmas sanitize the fact that “God with Us” means that God experiences the muck and mire of our complex realities. To those with inferiority complexes or feelings of unworthiness, Escobar points out how many of those involved with the first Christmas were unimportant people. She gives readers permission to admit that they are tired and to say, “I don’t know.” Then, she offers some suggestions on acknowledging this complicated reality.
The second week covered the vital area of practicing honesty. In “preparing the way” for experiencing Advent, she urges everyone to express their own voice in the wilderness. And, to be honest, she contends we have to be honest about our anger and express it as per Ephesians 4:26, to admit grief while being aware (as the Psalmist seems to be in Psalm 55:6 in the New Living Translation) “You have kept track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.”, facing fear by acknowledging it since four of the encounters in the Christmas story begin with “Don’t be afraid!”, confronting shame in a safe space, and seeking help in one’s disorientation.
The third week was the richest part of the volume. It was about embracing paradox, knowing that one doesn’t have to be defeated by the emotional whiplash of singing songs of joy while feeling the sting and pain of grief. I particularly liked her phrase: “The essence of the Jesus story is that we rise by descending.” (p. 58) She emphasizes paradox with the lines about the reversal of status from Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1. She notes how we must navigate between Light and Dark, Beautiful and Ugly, Peace and Chaos, Hope and Despair, and Love and Hate without giving up when confronted by any of these extremes. The learning activity for this chapter has a fascinating approach. She offers lists of adjectives and challenges the reader to choose words from the lists to express the current paradox in which they find themselves (pp. 72-73). It’s simple, but eye-opening.
The fourth week was about “Borrowing Hope.” It sounds somewhat cliché, but it isn’t. As human beings, we have to learn how to depend upon each other. When we’re down, we need to borrow hope from God and borrow hope from those around us to be strengthened for the challenges we will face. Perhaps the best advice for those “loaning” hope to those in such dire situations is to “Be interested, not interesting.” (p. 89)
The final part of the book offers some interesting liturgical ideas for use with small groups or congregations with a sense that many are struggling during this holiday season. The book even offers some ideas for “Reflection Stations” with activities to express: grief and loss (collecting tears in a bottle and applying Psalm 55:6), fear (writing the things we fear on a mirror), anger (an ornament-smashing station (with protective gear)) and emotional pain (create your own wailing wall) among others (pp. 111-114).
For me, A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas was useful, but it felt more like a self-help book than a devotional tool. It has worthy quotations, interesting insights, and helpful suggestions, but it is light on scriptural reference and application. I’m glad the book was written and published, but I definitely feel like it could have stronger ties to scripture in general and the Christmas story in particular.
December 14, 2020
I appreciate how A Weary World acknowledges and explores the reality of suffering. I don't read a lot of devotionals because it can be difficult for writers to pack a lot of meaning and substance into bite-size chunks meant to be read daily for a certain period of time. I would've liked this book to be meatier and dive deeper, especially considering the subject matter and the author's willingness to write about her own experiences of loss and grief. It does provide an entryway and resources for Christians who are unsure of what it means to lament and grieve.
December 29, 2020
This devotional book had many good points to stop and think about. The author invites the reader to dive as deep as they want into each subject. My favorite quote from this book was, "Hope requires risks and sacrifice. Hope requires believing in what is unseen." This author points out that life is messy and that is ok. God did not promise no pain, He promised that He would see us through the pain. The author asks the reader to find a positive in each day, even if it is microscopic. This book was not fun, but it was a guiding light.
December 16, 2020
A beautifully written guide for honoring “ weary hearts” . It is formatted as a daily guide through the Advent season but I found it so hopeful and comforting that I plan on using the reflections and exercises all year long. Very honest and thought provoking.
November 10, 2020
Very useful for many of us.
December 17, 2020
Absolutely excellent.
December 21, 2020
I love Pastor Escobar's writing. This Advent devotional will come as a welcome balm to many this year. A beautifully practical and vulnerable devotional collection for the season.
January 20, 2021
Great choice for Advent study during the pandemic.
February 28, 2021
An excellent Advent read, particularly with its wintry acknowledgment of the pain of the season.
December 28, 2023
A great devotional for those of us entering the Christmas season sad, lonely, or angry. Good resoruces for groups and churches too.
November 20, 2023
Listened on Audible (Included).
Is this author a Christian deconstructionist? Is that an oxymoron?
The author is a female pastor who has lost her son to suicide. The loss of a child is devastating under any circumstances, so it’s understandable that she questions her faith. Her stance was a bit confusing to me at times, but I get that. Grieving during Christmas is not easy. I applaud this pastor and grieving mother’s efforts to minister compassionately to those in similar circumstances. If you are grieving and questioning your faith during Christmas, I pray this book ministers to your heart.
Is this author a Christian deconstructionist? Is that an oxymoron?
The author is a female pastor who has lost her son to suicide. The loss of a child is devastating under any circumstances, so it’s understandable that she questions her faith. Her stance was a bit confusing to me at times, but I get that. Grieving during Christmas is not easy. I applaud this pastor and grieving mother’s efforts to minister compassionately to those in similar circumstances. If you are grieving and questioning your faith during Christmas, I pray this book ministers to your heart.
January 2, 2026
in the thick of things
A wonderful reflection on finding reasons for hope and joy in the midst of grief and tragedy. If you are having trouble finding a reason to continue read this.
A wonderful reflection on finding reasons for hope and joy in the midst of grief and tragedy. If you are having trouble finding a reason to continue read this.
January 1, 2025
Pastor Kathy Escobar's short devotional is sure to be a balm to many a weary soul. I only wished it was longer. Kathy's pastoral heart shines through even as she is speaking from her own deep grief and pain in losing one of her children to death by suicide.
If your grief and sorrow feel like too much, I think you will find at least a little comfort as you read this book.
The book has 28 daily reflections with prayers and suggested practices to honor our pain and struggles during the holiday season. This might be a good devotional for small group studies also.
I will definitely be coming back to this one again.
If your grief and sorrow feel like too much, I think you will find at least a little comfort as you read this book.
The book has 28 daily reflections with prayers and suggested practices to honor our pain and struggles during the holiday season. This might be a good devotional for small group studies also.
I will definitely be coming back to this one again.
June 19, 2021
Just what I needed. Thanks!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews