Finding Peace This Holiday Season

By John O'Leary. This was originally posted on JohnOLearyInspires.com. When John O'Leary was 9 years old, he suffered burns over 100% of his body and was expected to die. He is now an inspirational speaker and bestselling author, teaching more than 50,000 people around the world each year how to live inspired. John's first book, ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life was published March 15, 2016. John is a contributing writer for Huff Post and Parade.com. John is a proud husband and father of four and resides in St. Louis, MO. Order John’s book today anywhere books are sold.

Many people send out Christmas cards this time of year. These cards typically feature pictures of smiling kids, happy couples, cute dogs, new homes. Many cards include images of beautiful Christmas trees, Santa leaving gifts, Snoopy driving sleighs, or nativity scenes.

But several years ago, it was a seemingly bland card, with a seemingly odd message, that most deeply moved me. On a plain blue card weren’t pictures, images, families or snowflakes, but four words:

“Do Not Be Afraid.”

Seemed like a strange message for the holiday season. Why lead with a message of fear around the holidays? Why not send pictures of puppy dogs and snow flakes and Santa and kids looking just perfect? Kind of a dark message, right?!

Then I remembered the first words Mary heard from the angel:
Do Not Be Afraid.

And the first words heard by Joseph in a dream.
Do Not Be Afraid.

And the first words a bunch of shepherds heard while tending to their flocks.
Do Not Be Afraid.

Then I thought of the woman who had sent this card. She was recently widowed, struggling with intense grief, dealing with loneliness, facing uncertainty. And I understood the grand simplicity and profound truth of her card.

My friends, we all carry so many concerns into this Christmas week.

Some wrestle with the agony of a lost loved one and their first Christmas with an empty chair around the table. Others endure the weight of too many pulls on their time, too many places to be, too many things to get done. Some feel trapped in an unhealthy relationship; some ache to be in a relationship.

We all carry insecurities and anxieties into this week and into the final days of 2021.

And then we are reminded of a fundamental truth too frequently overlooked this time of year.

Do not be afraid.

It was a message delivered 2,000 years ago that transformed the lives of those who heard and heeded them.
Perhaps there’s value in hearing and heeding them in our lives today.

This is your day.
Do not be afraid.
And Live Inspired.

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