What’s one simple way to beat the holiday cold and flu season and stay healthy for all your December plans?
Wash your hands—faithfully and often.
December is National Handwashing Month, and it arrives at the perfect time. Between Christmas programs, shopping trips, church services, baking days, potlucks, and travel, our hands touch everything. Good hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors.
How Long Should You Wash?
The rule is simple:
Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Some people sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
Others hum the alphabet.
We have another idea.
Try a 20-Second Scripture Scrub
Use your handwashing time to anchor God’s Word in your heart:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16 (NIV)
Spoken slowly, John 3:16 is right around that 20-second mark.
It cleans your hands—and steadies your heart.
How Often Do Our Doctors Wash Their Hands?
If you shadowed our team for a day, you’d be amazed.
Dr. Victor, our Staff Dentist, estimates he washes or sanitizes his hands more than 30 times a day—
before and after every patient, after touching surfaces or equipment,
after removing gloves, after using the restroom,
and any time germs could move from one place to another.
Dr. Andrea isn’t far behind.
On a busy clinic day, that adds up to dozens, hundreds even, of clean-hand moments—each one a small act of care that protects patients and keeps illnesses from spreading.
A Fun Holiday Reminder
Somewhere around mid-December, even adults need a nudge to keep washing.
That’s where a little seasonal humor comes in:
When you’re out and about and can’t get to a sink, don’t forget your Santa-tizer.
(Yes—Santa washes his hands too.)
It’s a lighthearted way to keep a serious habit top-of-mind during this holiday season.
Staying Healthy Through the Holidays
Handwashing helps:
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Prevent colds, flu, RSV, and stomach bugs
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Protect infants, seniors, and those with chronic conditions
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Keep families from missing work, school, and holiday gatherings
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Reduce the spread of illness in churches, clinics, and crowded spaces
A sink.
A little soap.
Twenty seconds.
A Scripture verse you can carry into the new year.
Small steps—but they make a big difference.