Merry Christmas

Some years ago I heard a person observe after a day of Christmas shopping that nobody says Merry Christmas anymore. For the next few days I made an effort to observe if this was true, and in my observation it was.

I won't speculate too much on why this is true except to say that much of the Christmas season's activities do little to pull our eyes to Christ. Between buying, selling, hurrying, deciding, and trying not to "offend" anyone, Merry Christmas as a expression of goodwill is mostly gone.

Instead of cursing the darkness I tried to bring a little light. So I committed to making Merry Christmas part of my send off in all my meetings be they big or small. So I put "have a nice day" , "take it easy" , and "who loves you baby?" on the shelf. O.K., I've never said "who loves you baby?" to anyone, but I could.

Making a point of saying it was not a stand against political correctness or an expression of defiance. I tried to think of it and mean it as a sincere hope that Christ would be known and embraced in big and little ways throughout the season. Over the years of doing it, I have never been corrected or scolded or even frowned at.

Reflecting on it over the years I must admit I don't think it has revolutionized the places I've visited. No store clerk, waitress, or bank teller has ever dropped to their knees in repentance and given their life to serving Christ because I said Merry Christmas. I don't know that anyone has ever given it a second thought. But I have noticed that there is someone it has helped quite a bit.

Me.

It is difficult to be crabby and pushy and return rudeness for rudeness in the public square when you know that at the end of your encounter you are going to say Merry Christmas. Finding the best deal and boxing people away from the last Star Wars Lego sale item gainsa new perspective knowing I'm going to leave behind a wish for a joyful Christmas. It's kind of like being a business person leaving behind a business card. He or she would not dream of doing that if his or her behavior was  crappy. You leave behind a business card if you want the person to remember their encounter with you foundly.

Let saying Merry Christmas mean: examine my behavior while we have had this brief encounter and may it even in a small way affirm that there is a living God. He walked with us 2000 years ago and now walks with us by His Spirit through His people who are the Church of Jesus Christ. I am one of them, and I desire you to be part of us.

Merry Christmas