{"product_id":"unhappy-holidays-blessings-for-a-blue-christmas-9781513816470","title":"Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas","description":"\u003cb\u003eHow can we hope when not all is merry and bright?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e We often think of the Christmas season as a time of good cheer, festive parties, and thoughtful gifts. But what happens when the reality of life stands in stark contrast to these expectations? Cancer diagnoses, divorce proceedings, and natural disasters do not care about calendar time. Smaller hardships create their own stress--travel woes, custody arrangements, money struggles, and political differences can strain our closest relationships. How do we live into the spirit of Christmas when things feel bleak? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e From the coauthor of \u003ci\u003eComfort and Joy\u003c\/i\u003e comes a gentle companion for a season that may not always feel like the most wonderful time of the year. Spiritual director Sherah-Leigh Gerber offers readers ways of noticing how God shows up in daily life amid our heartache, grief, and loss. With thoughtful reflections and compassionate blessings drawn from the familiar biblical texts of Advent, \u003ci\u003eUnhappy Holidays \u003c\/i\u003einvites readers to recover a sense of hope as we prepare to celebrate the incarnation. Includes resources for small groups and use in worship settings as well as at home. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSherah-Leigh Gerber\u003c\/b\u003e is a spiritual director and writer. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary and an ordained minister in Mennonite Church USA, Gerber has served as a pastor in addition to working in other nonprofit leadership roles. Gerber lives with her husband and two teenage children on a fifth-generation farm in northeastern Ohio. She is the coauthor of \u003ci\u003eComfort and Joy: Readings and Practices for Advent\u003c\/i\u003e. You can learn more about her work at SherGerber.com. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Herald Press (VA)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51635428622610,"sku":"9781513816470","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_c1d2da1e-d436-4b69-8840-aa2caf2104d9.jpg?v=1759235262","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/unhappy-holidays-blessings-for-a-blue-christmas-9781513816470","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}