Stress and the Holy Family

Learning how to conquer anxiety

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we read in the Gospel that Joseph had just been told in a dream to go to Egypt with his family because the life of the baby Jesus was in danger.

Think of the stress this unexpected turn of events must have produced! With little time to recover from childbirth, Mary had to quickly flee from Bethlehem with Joseph and a newborn baby. Joseph was faced with having to find work in a new town in a foreign country. They had little or no money and only a few possessions—all of which could fit on the back of a donkey.

In my mind, I can see a courageous Joseph saying, “I want to be faithful and follow what God has instructed me to do, but I know nothing about Egypt. I have no job—no way of earning any income—and I have two other human beings to care for.” I can visualize him weighed down by all of these problems. I can feel the stress.

Reducing Family Stress. For a variety…

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