Autumn’s Notes

Cold and flu season has officially arrived in our house. You know the signs — tissues tucked into every pocket, the hum of the humidifier through the night, and that quiet check-in we do as parents, brushing a hand across a forehead to see if it’s warmer than it should be. The moment someone sneezes, it’s like the Mission: Impossible theme starts playing — parents spring into action, sanitizer appears from nowhere, and suddenly we’re dodging germs like they’re slow-motion explosions. Add to that the busyness of December, and suddenly every sniffle feels heavier, every cough more concerning.

Earlier this week, as I was getting my middle daughter tucked into bed the night before her school Christmas concert, she shifted uncomfortably and placed her hand on her tummy. “Mom,” she said softly, “my stomach really hurts.” After a few moments of comforting, she paused and asked something that stopped me in my tracks.

“Can we pray together and ask God to make my tummy feel better?”

So we did. Hands clasped and voices quiet, she prayed with a faith that was simple and sure. At that moment, it confirmed for me something I’ve long hoped: the discipleship we practice — the bedtime prayers, the scripture readings, the conversations woven into car rides and weekend crafts — was taking root. She wasn’t turning first to fear or worry. She was turning to Jesus.

Earlier that week, we had been learning about one of Jesus’ many names: the Great Physician. We talked about how Jesus heals — physically, emotionally, spiritually. We read scriptures like Matthew 11:4–5, where Jesus reminds us of the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the sick being healed. We reflected on John 14:11–14, where Jesus speaks of the power found in believing and asking in His name. The girls were in awe. Their eyes widened at the realization that the same Jesus who healed then is the same Jesus who walks with us now.

Even in worship music, we sing of Jesus as the Great Physician — the One who heals the hurting heart and the weary body. Hymns like The Great Physician and Christ, the Great Physician remind us that this same Healer we celebrate at Christmas is the One who walks with us through every season of sickness and fear. As one classic hymn line says, “He restores the broken, and makes the wounded whole.” In more contemporary worship, songs like “Jesus Is My Healer” declare Jesus’ power over sickness and fear with lines like “Jesus is my healer… He alone has triumphed over sickness and disease,” reminding us that the name of Jesus brings peace, strength, and healing into our lives. These songs — old and new — echo the hope we teach our children: that Jesus’ healing power is not distant; it is alive, near, and reaching into every moment of our lives.

That night, I stayed with her a little longer than usual, listening to her steady breathing and praying quietly myself. By morning, her tummy ache had eased. She woke up smiling, excited, and ready. And that evening, she stood on stage with her classmates, dressed in her beautiful Christmas dress, singing songs that filled the room with the familiar joy of the Christmas season. The music — bright, hopeful, and festive — felt like a celebration in itself.

Christmas has always been sung into being — from Mary’s song of praise to the angels proclaiming peace on earth. Music carries the message of hope, weaving reminders of light, peace, and the joy found in God drawing near. The Great Physician did not remain distant, but came into the world in human form, a babe in a manger, willingly stepping into our weakness, our sickness, and our fear.

Cold and flu season has a way of making fear creep in. We hunker down. We cancel plans. We replay all the “what ifs.” And while wisdom and care are important — especially for those with underlying health concerns — fear was never meant to be our guide. Too often, fear keeps us from fellowship, from serving, and from sharing the hope we’ve been given.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:15, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Faith is meant to be lived openly and shared freely — with our children, our neighbors, and anyone God places in our path. Share the Good News this season, with your cashier, your FedEx driver, or your waitress at the restaurant. Be bold in your Faith, don’t hide the light of Jesus, reflect it!

Teaching our children not to live in fear doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means teaching them where to place their hope. To trust that Jesus is present. That He heals. That He saves. That He is Emmanuel — God with us — in every season.

As we move through this winter season, may we choose faith over fear. May we teach our children where true hope is found. And may we remember that the light we carry is meant to be seen.
Until next week,

May you carry the courage of Christ in the face of fear, the light of Jesus into every room, and find peace in the healing hope of the Great Physician this season.

— A.