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Do you sometimes feel sick at this time of year over the godless celebrations of Christmas? I want to challenge all of us to take Christmas back from its secularized version and use this time of year as an opportunity to reach out to people with the whole story of Christmas—that Jesus came as a baby for one reason, to die on a cross so that we could go to heaven.
Fran and Louise have decided they want to do something different this year. Instead of having her usual Christmas party for her friends at church, she and Louise decided to have a party for people at work. Since it will be in her home, Fran can control the menu and the tone of the party, and she and Louise have thought of a creative way to get the gospel in.
This Sunday evening, after Louise left, she and the kids decide to get out some of the decorations for Christmas. “Oh, here’s my beautiful Christmas crèche that Aunt Regina gave me,” Fran says as she carefully unwraps each beautiful piece.
“Are you gonna put it on the mantel again this year, Mom?” Drew asks.
“Yeah, I think that’s the best place…” Fran starts, and then a thought overtakes her. “Hey, kids, would you mind if I took this to the office this year? I could display it on my credenza at work, and maybe it would start some conversations.”
“But Mommy, we always have it on our mantel,” Alice objects. “It’s so pretty. It might get broke at work.”
“I know, Alice,” Fran says, “and I’ve been so careful with it all these years. It’s a beautiful treasure.”
“You said it cost a lot of money,” Alice adds.
“Hmm, I’m sure it did. But you know, Alice, if it would help someone hear about Jesus, don’t you think it would be worth it to put it in my office this year?” Fran asks.
“Well,” Alice says, “since you put it that way.”
The next day Fran takes her beautiful family treasure to the office and carefully displays it on her credenza. One of her peers, Janice, comes in just as she is putting it out.
“What’s that, Fran?” she asks. “Oh, a manger set. That’s nice.” She begins to look at it closely. “Actually, it’s exquisite. Where did you get it?”
Fran explains the family history of her crèche and then says, “I just wanted to find a way to remind myself and everybody else about the real reason we have Christmas. I think it sometimes gets lost in all the craziness, don’t you?”
“The real reason?” Janice says. “What do you mean?”
What a great question. Just what Fran had hoped for. “You know, it would take longer than we’ve got right now to answer that question. How about lunch today?”
“Lunch with me?” Janice seems surprised. She and Fran just never have had an opportunity to get to know each other very well. But they agree to meet for lunch, where Fran has an open door to talk about the real meaning of Christmas.
What could you do in your office or workplace this Christmas that might start a meaningful conversation? Think about it.