I was in a gift shop in Nashville today and like every other store in America the week after Christmas, all the Christmas items were 50% off. My daughter was looking at a tree filled with ornaments and saw one she liked and ran over to tell me about it. "Mom, look at this ornament. Isn't it pretty.? It says "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." I agreed the ornament was very pretty. She went on. " That is the reason for Christmas isn't it Mama?". I said "Yes, Honey, Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.
A man was standing right next to me and my daughter and I know he had heard every word. He was staring at us, nonspeaking and unmoving. I looked the man in the eye and said " You are such a sweet girl to remember that." The man walked away.
On the drive home, I was wondering what might have been on that man's mind.
There was a car in that parking lot with a Minnesota license plate. Did he recognize a Midwest accent, but was afraid to ask where we were from?
Did he agree with my daughter , but was just too shy to say so? Or,
Was he part of that 14% that does not believe we should be celebrating Christmas or uttering the name of Jesus or God or Christmas in public, but kept it to himself because of the "Go ahead, challenge me" look on my face?
I have heard more people wish me a Merry Christmas this year than any other year in recent memory. Jesus is indeed the reason we Celebrated that Holiday with Family and Friends. I am so thankful and so grateful that my 8 year old knows this and is not afraid to acknowledge it.
Have a Safe and very Blessed New Year's. And... MERRY CHRISTMAS even if it is a few days late.
