Several times over the last few days, I have been reminded to keep Christ in Christmas. More than once I have been told that Christmas isn’t about the tinsel, the gifts, the food, the parties, and it isn’t enough to say “Happy Holidays.”

I suppose all that is true. Christmas, for Christ followers, is not built on those things. It is centered in incarnation. But, I must confess that all those “nots” left me wondering exactly what I’m supposed to do with the tinsel, gifts, food, gatherings, and friendly greetings. I felt like I sure was spending a lot of time on things that weren’t the real Christmas.

Then I came back to incarnation, God with us, and I realized that Christmas actually can be found in each of the above. In fact, that may be the simple and profound truth of Christmas. We can recognize and bring the presence of Christ into all the trappings and activities of the season. Perhaps we are actually experiencing God with us when we are awed by beautiful decorations, when we lovingly give and receive presents, when we eat with gratitude, when we celebrate and rejoice in one another’s company, and yes, when we smile and say, “Thank you. Happy holidays to you.” Wonder, love, generosity, and thankfulness, all those things are signs of God’s presence.

I believe that recognizing that and being that for one another is how we keep Christ in Christmas.

So, I am thankful for each one of you that share this amazing thing called life with me. Thank you for sharing your wonderful selves. Thank you for being Christ to me in so many ways. In other words, Merry Christmas.