I watched the morning’s snowflakes drift past my office window. An inch of new fallen snow remained from the night before and a walk was irresistible. I made my way to the mailboxes creating first time, lone footprints.
As I approached the boxes, other footprints joined me. The closer I got, the more footprints. Mine soon became indistinguishable. I was part of the mailbox community now.
On making my way back, all was reversed until my own footprints were traced back.
I gave some thought to my neighbors and their mailbox ritual. We work in an average American neighborhood. Most of us are undoubtedly Christians as most Americans are. Most of us would have wished each other a Merry Christmas. Probably none, including the non-Christians would object to a “Merry Christmas” greeting.
Yet the Christmas greeting is already a thing of the past. Even the bell ringer for Salvation Army would not say “Merry Christmas.” The post office cancels our mail with “Happy Holidays” and no Christmas catalog will refer to Christmas. We attended a Winter Music Festival even though most of the music was Christmas. When the Buddhists are successful we’ll have “Gifting Day.”
Alone again in the office, I began thinking about how we come together for Christmas. We give gifts because he gave Himself. It’s the best in us that is Christmas.
So from our family to your family and to all of mankind…Merry Christmas.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son… John 3:16
