Christmas has a soundtrack—carols, laughter, paper tearing, mugs clinking—but beneath it all is a quieter melody most of the world rushes past.
Silence.
Not the awkward kind. Not the empty-room kind. But the holy kind—the kind that makes space for relief, wonder, and presence. The kind Mary held in her heart. The kind the shepherds walked into under a sky so vast it must have stilled their breath. The kind that lets us finally exhale after a long year and feel that gentle, welcome emotion you love so well: relief.
This season, amid the planning, charting, consulting, teaching, writing, and advocating, I’ve found myself returning to a simple truth:
The greatest gift we give others is our presence.
And the greatest gift we give ourselves is the pause that makes it possible.
The Unexpected Gifts of a Christmas Pause
You notice what truly matters instead of what demands attention Your nervous system settles Creativity returns Faith deepens And yes… your heart experiences relief, not pressure
A Gift for the Attorney, the Clinician, the Caregiver—All of Us
We’re pros at giving gifts, but not always at receiving them. So here’s my gentle nudge, inspired by the spirit of gifting we celebrate today:
If you’re an attorney reading this—consider giving yourself the gift of support this year. Hire a Legal Nurse Consultant for just one case. Let someone else untangle the records, build the timeline, spot the clinical red flags, or clarify the causation. See what happens when the load lightens and your work feels less like stirring meringue with a spoon and more like reaching for a mixer.
If you’re a clinician—give yourself the grace of pacing the work so you can continue the work.
And if you’re simply a human carrying a heart through this world—offer yourself the gift of silence long enough to feel the sweet relief of being exactly where you are, held by a God who came gently, quietly, humbly into the world so you wouldn’t have to earn a single moment of His love.
A Christmas Blessing
May your days feel slow enough to savor,
quiet enough to hear God’s voice,
light enough to feel relief,
and love-filled enough to overflow.
Merry Christmas, friends.
Thank you for walking this Calm Journey with me this year—professionally, creatively, spiritually, and intentionally.
With peace, presence, and profound relief,
Heather Rhodes, MSN, APRN-BC
Calm Journey, LLC 🎄
Calm Journey 