As Christians, we know there is a far bigger reason to celebrate and be joyful, but if we are honest, we often have gotten so comfortable with Christmas that our hearts have become calloused. The birth of Jesus no longer excites and fills us with awe as it used to, and we find more satisfaction in the material things this season offers.

I think it’s fair to say that most of us tend to avoid people that we find are difficult to deal with. Why bother getting closer when we know conflicts are almost impossible to avoid? What’s the point of showing acts of kindness when they go unnoticed and unappreciated anyway?