Keeping the Christ in Christmas is not the only important thing to remember this holiday season.

Gasp. I really just said that.

For Christians everywhere, it tends to get frustrating to see our traditional celebrations cut down or out in the public arena. I have a different perspective on this. I feel, instead of a dialogue of disappointment and distrust, we should be using this conversation as a reason to speak truth. Jesus is probably not worried about the courthouse  having no decorated tree this year, or the monument of the ten commandments being removed from the lawn. Jesus also is probably not interested in His children fighting over the design of an over priced coffee cup or  which restaurant is closed on Sunday, making it really inconvenient for hungry shoppers.  No where in the Bible does it say the times will ever be easy for Christians on this earth.

We are to be prepared for persecution at any level. We are forewarned about not only the large things, like mass killings and  martyrdom, but we are also warned about the little things that just get under our skin.

If we are so worried about all of these crazy things, why not put them up in our own homes? How about a monument of the ten commandments in my tropical garden? How about decorating my giant spruce tree in the front yard, for all to see? How about a reusable coffee cup, with a – get ready- real life spiritual message on it?

Or even better.

How about I give the homeless man on the way to work a backpack with socks, bottled water and toiletries?  How about I drop off some dinner to the single mom who is working overtime to get gifts for her kids? How about I spend my energy praying for the men and women who put their lives into protecting ours? How about I write a message of hope and encouragement to all of you, instead of taking a stand against the machines that keep running, regardless of how much we complain?

Jesus walked where people needed Him, and He didn’t fight the machine as much as He was an example for it. He didn’t spend His time arguing- He spent His time teaching about grace, mercy and love. He spent His time choosing to find redemptive qualities in the most lost of sinners. He spent His healing powers on the hearts and bodies of men and women we would never consider worthy.

Yet we are worried about the disposable cup that will land in the trash as soon as our over priced coffee is gone?

This holiday season, regardless of how you celebrate, I would challenge you to speak truth for hope, mercy and grace. Look for the redemptive qualities in everyone- we all have them because we are all children of God. Find something good to  talk about, find something positively Christian to post on social media. Ditch the complaints and the fight about things that don’t need to be sorted out. Instead choose to be impactful, in a loving, Jesus like way.

Instead of fighting for the Christ to be kept in Christmas, Be the Christ in Christmas.