by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo, Sr. Minister
Almost all of us in the church office are sick or have recently been sick.
That’s strange…although perhaps not unexpected.
What’s interesting is that none of us have the same thing, meaning we didn’t all give it to one another. That would be explainable. But each of us, in our own personal way, has been ill recently.
I say this is not unexpected because it is easy to get run down. We are currently in the midst of one of the busiest, most demanding, times of the year. The months from the end of October through the start of January sees four pretty major holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Heaven forbid any of you also have birthdays, family anniversaries, of other celebrations like 
Hannukah to add to the mix. There is so much going on and so many expectations placed on many of us that it is easy to get overbooked, overworked, and overtired. It’s also a highly emotional time of either great joy, great sorrow, or great stress! All this creates the perfect climate for getting sick.
Now, I can blame my COVID on travel. And other staff members can blame their ailments on hereditary or chronic health issues. That is all likely true. But being in the middle of this crazy season seems to fling open the doors of our immune systems and let every malady take root.
We need to protect ourselves.
We need to find ways of taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Years ago, in one of my prior churches, I received a newsletter from the Parish Nurse/Health Ministry Network of the local hospital. The newsletter included a list of helpful tips for remaining healthy through the holidays. The tips may seem obvious and simplistic, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t relevant. Read through this list and see if there is anything within that you might find helpful during these last few weeks before Christmas.
Stress-less tips for Surviving Christmas
Take care of your body. Exercise. Stop eating when you’re full. Get plenty of sleep. Limit alcohol consumption. Don’t drink and drive…and fasten your seatbelt.
Take care of your spirit. Give yourself at least a couple of days to do what you want to do. Take time for worship and prayer. Make a list of the things you and your family enjoy about the holidays. Build traditions around those you enjoy most.
Realize that you are not solely responsible for making Christmas special for everyone else.
Don’t accept every invitation you receive. You can’t be everywhere!
If this is the first holiday after a divorce, death or end of a relationship, remove yourself from some of the reminders of the past. Do something you’ve never done before.
Give time and friendship rather than presents. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Drive a homebound friend or neighbor around to see the holiday decorations.
Keep your sense of humor and count your blessings!
As we journey through this Christmas Season, it is important to remain physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy. This provides us with the best opportunity for a meaningful and spirit-filled celebration of the coming of Christ and the promise of new life. If Christ is to be born in us this Christmas, let us strive to make ourselves a healthy habitation for him.