Close family and friends who know me well, know that I have a very hard time being still. I have a rewarding, yet exhausting, career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Every day, I hit the ground running, and if I am not working with students, I am fulfilling my leadership role of being a mentor to new graduates and answering policy questions to the therapists who are on my team. This, along with trying to be a good mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend and an active church member. I often tell myself, if I stop I will never catch up on my never ending list of things to do. Does this sound familiar, especially at this time of year with work deadlines, holiday parties and finding the perfect gifts?

Recently, several months of experiencing vertigo landed me in a brain imaging machine. I realized that being made to be still quickly led to panic and asking myself, "How did I end up here?" The breathing techniques that I teach my students with autism on a weekly basis were not cutting it. I closed my eyes and felt God holding my hand and telling me he was with me and it would all be okay. I was talking to Him and relying on Him during the hour-long test. Why did it take an MRI for me to be still? That is all God wants from me (us): to talk to him, rely on him and to rest our weary heads at his feet. Yes, he also loves it when we attend church to worship, study His word and do good deeds...but, I really think all He wants is our heart and our true presence.

I challenge all of my family at WFPC, including myself, to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. God doesn't care about a perfectly decorated tree and getting our holiday cards out the first week of December. His son, Jesus Christ our Lord, was born as a gift to all of us and all He wants in return is to spend time with us, and our friendship and our trust.

"Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10

Marla Seymour