My “Merry Christmas” brought a strange look.
My accent is so thick that I don't have to go beyond our local supermarket or Wal-Mart for people to listen and grin when I talk.
When I visited Minnesota in the summer of 2016, I spoke to random people just because I knew my southern accent would get looks and begin conversations. After I had gotten the look, I asked, "Would you believe I'm a local?" Of course, everyone says, "No," and the conversation turns to where I am from. While in Minnesota, I had the opportunity to tell them about the new Baptist churches we were working on. When I said the number one word that Northerners want to know if Southerners really say, "Y'all," everyone gave a good belly laugh.
I bet you have already smiled at least once. Maybe even laughed at the thoughts of a Southerner ordering at McDonald's in Minnesota or Illinois.
We can be friendly and wish everyone we see a “Merry Christmas,” along with giving them a big smile. Not only will it help them, but it will also make us feel pretty good too. When we wish people Merry Christmas, they might pay more attention to the calendar. And it will brighten someone's day, if only for a moment.
We all need those escapes from reality that come from an unexpected greeting or someone using good manners and being polite. Good laughs and trips down memory lane are also helpful. We might be surprised at how many witnessing opportunities a greeting to a stranger might bring.
God wants us to be full of joy so the world can see Christ's love in our lives. We might even get to tell someone what Christmas is really about.
Try saying Merry Christmas to someone today.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Andy is a published multi-award-winning author with devotions appearing on the Christian Devotions website as well as the CBN website. He is a contributing author in the Starr Ayers/Stephanie Pavlantos book Room at the Table. Currently, he is working on his first novel and is assembling a book of inspirational Scripture-based short stories along with moral, personal, family, and comical stories. Andy is the founder and director of H.O.P.E. Ministries in Candler, NC. While operating primarily as a food ministry, they also provide backpacks, Easter baskets, and Christmas shoebox gifts to crisis pregnancy centers, domestic violence shelters, schools, government agencies, and other ministries. They also provide disaster relief and aid for unwed mothers and their children.