Dr. Woodward and Mark discuss how to survive, or better yet, thrive during this holiday season. John and Mark first discuss grief. Some people enter this season with loss. Whether it is the loss of a thing or a person, John discusses how grief is part of the journey, and we need to draw upon grace and not focus only on negatives. We focus on Jesus and those around us. We can have peace and joy during any season or difficulty because Jesus is peace and joy, and He is in us. Next, John and Mark talk about the stress of the holidays. We all have places to go, houses to decorate, and gifts to buy. John discusses how happy things, like cooking Christmas dinner, can still bring us stress. We walk with Christ, not our checklists. Mark states that we do not have to be everything, not buy every gift. They guys discuss self-imposed stress, which is performance-based acceptance. Just because it has always "been done that way before" doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Jesus brings rest, and we are accepted in Him, so we do not have to meet everyone else's expectations. Finally, John and Mark discuss hurt. Some of our rejections are from those we will see during the holiday. Christ meets our needs, and Mark teaches the differences between forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness is immediate, but trust takes time. Mark tells us to begin now surrendering fears, anxiety, and all of the "what if's." Surrendering is not putting our heads in the sand, but allowing God to do through us what we cannot do on our own. Episode 16 teaches on surrender and passivity. Mark and John end the podcast with a prayer.