2025 Holiday Address by Andrew McKeough
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release | December 25, 2025
2025 Holiday Address by Andrew McKeough
McKeough Family Residence, Wayne, Pennsylvania
Friends and loved ones,
As we gather in the glow of the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the unique landscape of this year. Christmas often arrives with a whirlwind of bright lights and celebration, but for many of us, those lights shine through a lens of quiet reflection.
This year, I have been thinking deeply about the interconnected journey of grief, compassion, and rebirth.
We often feel a pressure during December to leave our sorrows at the door. However, grief is not a guest we can simply uninvite. Whether we are mourning the loss of a loved one, the end of a chapter, or the version of ourselves we used to be, that weight is real.
To anyone carrying a heavy heart this Christmas: I see you! It is okay if your "Merry Christmas" feels a little more like "I’m getting through." Grief is the ultimate testament to how deeply we have loved, and there is a profound, quiet sanctity in that.
In the space where grief resides, compassion becomes our most vital currency. It is the bridge that connects us when words fail. This season, I am reminded that compassion isn't just about what we give to others - it is also about the grace we afford ourselves.
When we approach one another with the understanding that everyone is carrying a hidden burden, we create a sanctuary. A kind word, a shared silence, or a simple "I’m here" can be the very spark that keeps someone’s fire burning through a cold night.
The story of Christmas is, at its heart, a story of rebirth. It tells us that even in the darkest, coldest part of the year, something new and hopeful can begin.
Rebirth does not mean forgetting the past or erasing our scars; it means allowing our experiences to transform us into something more resilient and more empathetic. Like the earth waiting beneath the snow, there is a quiet strength gathering within us. We have the opportunity to emerge from our trials with a heart that is wider, deeper, and more open to the beauty that remains.
May this Christmas be a time of gentle healing for you. May you find peace in your memories, strength in your community, and the courage to welcome the new growth that is waiting to bloom.
-Andrew K. McKeough
