In this special Christmas Eve episode, Luke and Monica share the story they’ve been building toward since the beginning of the podcast—the moment that quietly changed everything.

What started as a simple Christmas card on Christmas Eve 2023 became the spark for deeper conversation, unexpected connection, and a relationship formed in the middle of grief, faith, and uncertainty.

This episode is raw, reflective, and full of heart as Luke and Monica walk through:

• Why this Christmas Eve story mattered so deeply to both of them
• How grief can make the holidays feel both heavy and holy at the same time
• The power of a thoughtful gesture at exactly the right moment
• How God often works behind the scenes when life feels like it’s falling apart
• Why “falling apart” can actually mean things are falling into place
• Navigating love, loss, and faith after deep grief
• A fresh perspective on remarriage, memories, and honoring the past without erasing it

Luke also shares a meaningful reflection on the first Christmas, drawing parallels between Mary and Joseph’s disrupted plans and the way God still brought beauty, purpose, and redemption through the chaos.

This episode is not a Hallmark movie—but it is real.
It’s about peace in uncertainty, hope in grief, and the quiet ways God writes stories we could never plan ourselves.

If you’re walking through a hard season this Christmas, or if the holidays feel different than they used to, this episode is for you.

🎄 Merry Christmas & Happy Christmas Eve from the Silver Lining Podcast 🎄

In today’s episode, Luke & Monica take listeners into one of the most tender conversations yet — navigating grief, mourning, and the holiday season when life looks nothing like you expected.

Thanksgiving week can bring joy, memories, and celebration…
but it can also magnify loss, loneliness, and the reality of a life you didn’t plan for.

Both hosts share openly from their own stories:

• Luke walking through the loss of his wife, Alicia, in 2023
• Monica navigating the shock of divorce, depression, and rebuilding after being left in 2020

This episode dives into the difference between grieving (internal) and mourning (external), why both are biblical, and how to give yourself permission to feel what you need to feel — especially this time of year.

You’ll hear stories of first holidays after loss, expectations vs. reality, and how some traditions stayed the same… while others had to change completely. You’ll also hear practical, grace-filled thoughts for walking through Thanksgiving and Christmas when joy and sadness sit side by side.

What We Talk About in This Episode

• Why grief often hits hardest during the holidays
• The difference between grieving and mourning — and why both matter
• How Luke and Monica processed their first holiday seasons after loss
• The pressure of “holiday cheer” when your heart is still healing
• How to change traditions without losing meaning
• Why anger, tears, numbness, and confusion are all normal
• How to avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms during grief
• What it looks like to grieve with grace
• Practical steps to navigate Thanksgiving or Christmas when you’re hurting

Scriptures Mentioned

Romans 8:28 (KJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee…”

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (KJV)
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

Key Takeaways

• Grief is the internal feeling. Mourning is the external expression.
  You need both for healthy healing.
• You can’t heal what you won’t feel.
  Ignoring emotions doesn’t protect you — it just delays the process.
• Holidays may require doing things differently this year.
  That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.
• You don’t have to be the strong one. Jesus already volunteered for that.
• The life you’re living may not be the one you planned — and God can still work good in it.

How to Walk Through the Holidays With Grace

• Keep one tradition
• Change one tradition
• Let go of one expectation
• Rest in one intentional way
• Give yourself permission to cry, process, talk, and breathe

If This Episode Hit Home…

You’re not alone.
You’re not behind.
You’re not failing.

You’re human — and Jesus is close to the brokenhearted.
We pray this conversation brings comfort, clarity, and encouragement as you enter Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and letting us walk through these seasons with you. We are so grateful for each of you.

When you are walking through grief, divorce, or a hard season, people talk.

Some mean well and still hurt you. Others do not mean well at all. Rumors, opinions, and half-truths start flying, and suddenly it’s not just your circumstances that hurt — it’s the words surrounding them.

In this episode of Silver Lining with Luke & Monica, we talk honestly about how to handle hurtful words, gossip, and assumptions while you’re “in the fire,” and how to respond without losing your peace.

Luke shares about navigating comments and misunderstandings after Alicia’s death, and Monica opens up about the stigma and opinions that came with divorce. Together, they walk through how Philippians 4:8 can become a filter for your mind, not just a “positive thinking” verse, and why you don’t have to internalize everything people say.

We also tell the lighthearted Toys for Tots matchmaking story that accidentally exposed Monica’s first “I think I like Luke” moment… and yes, the infamous Awana tunic night. Humor, grief, awkwardness, and Scripture all show up in this one.

If you’ve ever wrestled with what people say about you, this conversation is for you.

🎵 Song referenced in this episode:
“You Say” by Lauren Daigle
https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI?si=QBmkEVkwPDhEr7Ez

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why hard seasons attract rumors and opinions
• A funny Toys for Tots story that revealed Monica’s feelings for Luke
• How grief and remarriage intersect with others’ assumptions
• Why talking about a loved one who passed can bring healing
• Hearing things about you instead of to you
• Using Philippians 4:8 as a filter for your mind
• Setting boundaries with people who keep you stuck in negativity
• Divorce, taking sides, and the pain of misrepresentation
• Reacting vs responding when words sting
• Dr. Jim Rushing’s “three days with the Trinity” rule
• Internal vs external processors in marriage
• Not internalizing what isn’t true
• Anchoring your identity in Christ instead of opinions
• Praying for those who hurt you
• Becoming an encourager in a world with very little encouragement

Scripture References

• Philippians 4:8
• Proverbs 4:23
• Proverbs 13:10
• Matthew 5:44
• Lamentations 3:22–23
• John 10:10

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