Christmas proclaims God's all-embracing love for us. Our holiday celebration should include, not crowd out, the healing and regeneration this love brings.
It may be surprising to learn that real rest comes from spiritual activity — from expressing Christly love, from exercising integrity, from giving unselfishly — not from going to sleep.
Songs, hymns, rejoicing — they aren't frivolous extras. When our heart sings in celebration of the power of Spirit, we can be restored both mentally and physically.
Childhood's joy may be so appealing because we feel lost innocence. But our childlikeness is restored by a growing appreciation of our nature as the child of God.
The author discovers that her fear of being alone and without friends or relatives at Christmastime is the symptom of a much deeper problem. She learns more about God as "the closest relative."
Today's good deeds are not necessarily gone tomorrow. When accompanied by prayer and spiritual commitment, they can be both healing and lasting in their effect.
