Christmas reminds us we really do have good news to share …

I love the story about a second-grader named Mike. On the way to school Mike bumped his arm against a sharp edge on a seat on the bus, causing a large scrape that bled and got all over his clothes. At school, he discovered he had forgotten to put his homework in his backpack, so he got in trouble for not having it. At recess, he was hit in the mouth by another boy and lost two teeth. After school, Mike slipped on some ice on the sidewalk and broke his wrist when he fell. On the way to the hospital he reached into his pocket with his good hand and pulled something out. His father asked him what it was.

“It’s a quarter … 25 cents! I found it on the ground when I fell down. It’s the first quarter I ever found. This is the best day of my life!” Mike replied with a big smile on his face.

Among all the difficulties of his day, Mike found something good he tell his dad about.

Among all the difficulties in our times, you would think by the way we act and what we have to say that there’s nothing good to report. But Christmas reminds us that there really is some good news to tell …

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you GOOD NEWS that will bring great joy to all people’,” Luke 2:8-10.

The news of Immanuel — God with is! — is good news, indeed! It was then, and it still is today. It’s news that can bring great joy to those we share it with. We just have to share!

We get ridiculously busy at Christmas time with all kinds of activities to the point we almost dread the holiday season because of just how busy we get. But how much of that has anything to do with sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? After all, that really IS what Christmas is about, and sharing that good news is the real way to “keep Christ in Christmas.”

Sharing the good news of Jesus isn’t something to do just at Christmas, but any day of the year we have the opportunity (or can create an opportunity) to do so. We have news that can transform lives, set people free, and bring great joy.

Are you sharing the good news of Jesus?

Scotty