Article December 2, 2002 Issue

The Christmas message heals fear and sickness

By Joan McElvain

IN AN ARTICLE titled "Christmas" found in one of her prose collections, Mary Baker Eddy described the star that looked down on the manger as "the light of Truth," cheering, guiding, and blessing everyone as they reach "forth for the infant idea of divine perfection dawning on human imperfection." She said that it ". . . calms man's fears, bears his burdens, beckons him on to Truth and Love and the sweet immunity these bring from sin, sickness, and death" (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 320).

That kind of "sweet immunity" is something that parents with young children pray for at this time of year.

I vividly recall one Christmas when the children were quite young. The presents were all wrapped and were under the tree. The great-grandparents had just arrived, and the smell of pumpkin pie was coming from the kitchen. The turkey was ready to be stuffed early the following morning and put into the oven. Everyone enjoyed hearing the Christmas story once again from the book of Matthew in the Bible, and our three children were looking forward to a very happy Christmas day.

About the author

Joanie McElvain, a mother and grandmother, lives in Westlake Village with her husband, Red, a Los Angeles fireman. Skiing is one of their favorite activities.

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