Christmas Gold

The trees on the platform glittered with colorful lights as the congregation sang the familiar carols. I heard whispered plans for festive gatherings, but the church's splendor only mocked my heartache. We walked into our silent house and I broke down by screaming, "Jesus does not love me!" Christmas was for the polished church families- not for failures like me.

Waves of suicidal thoughts scared me into crying out to God for help. God gave me a dream that night. I was in a mountainous region mining for gold. Over to my left was rough, rocky dirt, and I knew that real gold was there if I only...