Christmas with God

By Cheryl Petersen

Funny, out of the many Christmases I remember, one not only stands out but becomes more and more vivid—even though it happened over a decade ago.

Our extended family was expecting my husband and me and our two daughters for Christmas dinner. They lived nearby, but I wasn't well enough to go. I told my husband it was OK for him to take our daughters without me. He was quite hesitant—I was weak from a contagious form of strep throat and had an infected ear that affected my hearing. But I insisted that they go. I felt that the quietness in the house would actually be helpful to me as I prayed for healing.

Being alone in a quiet house on that Christmas Day did not produce one ounce of loneliness. I may not have been up dancing around, but I could still think, and find a way to celebrate Christmas by myself. I didn't spend one second believing that this illness was from God, or that it was His way of teaching me some lesson.

God is kind and wise. God would only encourage me to know what's true about me as His whole and healthy child. He would only help me to act better by giving me courage and wisdom. He does this through love, not by sending suffering.

This was basically all words to me at this point. But then something happened.

The room—or rather my consciousness—filled with a presence. A beautiful, powerful, soft, presence. I knew it to be the presence of Christ, the message of God, bringing peace and healing. My thinking, my reasoning, became clear. And the many things that had been floating around in thought over the previous months started making sense.

My husband and I had just changed jobs, and our family was going to move soon. I could see that I had been putting so much thought into this move that I'd been ignoring God.

There was no doubt that this relocation was the right thing to do. Yet to believe that this step in and of itself promoted progress in our lives, or was absolutely necessary in order for us to make progress, would be misleading. Merely moving from place to place doesn't advance anybody.

Progress in our lives comes from God. From the divine Mind. Progress results from bringing one's thoughts into line with God. God is the one and only Mind, conveying assistance and peace to each of us in the form of ideas. These ideas are recognizable and practical.

Being alone in a quiet house on Christmas Day didn't produce one ounce of loneliness.

That Christmas evening, what this meant to me was that right then I could make a step of progress. For example, I could love and forgive more. I could respect talents I noticed in others. I could quit thinking about myself so much. I could try to help other people—all others, not just those who might help me in return. And I could feel the Christ-spirit, which was coming to me from God.

The inspiration I felt that day showed lots of progress worth celebrating. I was healed completely, with a full return of my hearing. And our household move ended up going so quickly that I barely remember it.

Opening your thought to God's goodness brings you progress and healing—at Christmastime, and anytime.

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