When it comes to Christmas celebrations, so much is to be seen everywhere around the world in terms of decorations, shopping, food and much more. With the passage of time, Christmas has become a global festival irrespective of the fact that the basis of this festival is the cornerstone of Christianity. The celebration of Christmas in Pakistan, which is predominantly a Muslim country, has also taken a different turn during the past few years. A few years back, one could hardly imagine Christmas time besides the Christians themselves who would decorate their homes, churches, bake cakes and go shopping during this time of the season. Although it is a matter of money to purchase different items, the Christians of Pakistan always try to celebrate Christmas with the best available resources. For the past few years, Christmas decorations have also been put up in markets and public places by Muslims to show that the Christmas season is around. It is all about the happiness that this season has to offer. This year also, I have seen different pictures of some known places in Pakistan shimmering with Christmas decorations and churches splendidly decorated. However, my mind was struck by the memories and the agony of the suicide blasts that occurred in a church in Peshawar, Pakistan in September 2013. The blasts in the All Saints Church, Peshawar left scores dead and hundreds wounded. These blasts have snatched everything from some people and have left them alone. After my view of these Christmas pictures from Pakistan, I started to wonder what Christmas for the survivors of the blasts who have lost their dear and near ones was like. How do they feel when they offer prayers on Christmas day without their family members who were with them during last Christmas? The birth of Jesus Christ for the believers itself is a message of hope, peace and love. Nonetheless, as a human being, there are some feelings and emotions that are extremely difficult to deal with — one of them is to overcome the loss of dear ones and then start living life as it was before. This requires a lot of time and strength to heal the wound. For all those who lost their lives in the blasts were never aware of their next destination and did not know that their prayers, songs and good-byes to their friends and time with their family were to be snuffed out. “What is Christmas for those who have lost all their family members?” said Junaid Saqib who has lost 11 relatives. He further told me that it was just in one day that he buried the 11 bodies of his loved ones. Ostensibly, he is one of the many Christians in Peshawar who never thought this would happen: one day having to lay to rest close relatives and family members. It is heart wrenching to even try to imagine the pain felt by people like Junaid, who take out time to share the memories of that carnage. I lost my father last December and, every year, until the time that I breathe my last, I will miss him during this time of the year more, as every Christmas refreshes his memories. If I am going through such pain, then what about the agony of those brothers, sisters and elders who have lost everyone? They did not die of cardiac arrest or a natural death but the savage death they never even imagined during their lifetime. Some of the wounded in the blasts are still trying to recover and those who already have, are back to the normal chores of life. However, there are some wounds that can never be healed. The cries and pain that they have seen will always remain with them. Besides all the suffering, the level of optimism and the light of hope are heartwarming. Mr Tariq Aziz is looking after his wounded sister, another victim of the blast and in a letter addressed to me he wrote: “Dear Lubna Thomas, I have lost many members of my family, my brother-in-law William Ghulam who was principal of the Government High School, nephew Noel Williams, a student of medical college final year and niece Meerab William, a student of FSc who died in that bomb blast, and my sister who is injured and under treatment. Please pray for her. We are trying to celebrate Christmas, so that our enemies do not suppose that we are afraid of them. So, pray for us that God may strengthen us in our faith.” Christians in Pakistan have to worship with security guards positioned outside the churches. Never have I seen any Christian missing church just because one day they might be targeted by someone. It is pertinent to mention here that the security outside the churches is beefed up during Christmas and Easter, but mostly around Christmas more as all the churches have different programmes running throughout the season. The security threats and concerns all together cannot ever deter the Christians of Pakistan from celebrating Christmas with zeal nonetheless. Rather, I would say, the churches in Pakistan have more Christmas programmes than the churches of the US as I am celebrating my second Christmas here. I know that the Christians of Pakistan, whether they are in their country or abroad, remember these martyrs of Peshawar during this festive season as the bond of love and affection among us can never be broken or shattered by any such attacks. The hope in the message from Tariq Aziz, which I mentioned above, is the voice of many Christians in Pakistan who, no matter what happens, will adhere to their faith and keep sending messages to their enemies that the saviour is bigger than the killer. The author is a freelance writer