You know, it's amazing to me. We are only one decision away from reaching the world with a message. Whether that message is positive or not, is up to us.

I have been writing through my website, YPHP.org and public speaking for a while and have shared many photos and thoughts on social media. Yet never have I seen something so simple go so incredibly viral within days.

A Nativity scene painted upon a very well-known fast food chain caught my attention. Not just because it's Christmas, but because of the era we are currently living in.

I have been living in Spring Hill, TN with some friends of mine for the last few months as I have been in pursuit of finding my own place. As soon as I moved to Spring Hill, I noticed that this small town had something a little more to it that set it apart from the rest: unified community.

Driving back and forth, visiting the local stores, and chatting up a few residents, I realized very quickly that not only did everyone know one another (which obviously can be expected in a small town), but they also boldly displayed their Christian faith with diligence, pride, and respect. This, sadly enough, is currently very rare. Yet, this is also the reason why you are even reading this article, among many right now

I was driving back from the local Super Target and as I got stopped at the red light, I looked out the window across the street to see a beautiful painting of a nativity scene upon a McDonald’s store front window. Yet what made me do the famous “double take” wasn’t the bright colors of the picture. Instead, it was the words written on opposite sides of the painting. “His Name is Jesus” and “Rejoice”. I sat there for a moment and blinked a few extra times to ensure that I was reading the store-front window correctly. I was then brought back to my reality by the sound of a car horn beeping at me to alert me that the light had turned green. I quickly let off the brake, drove into the turning lane to pass by the McDonald’s again, and that is when I snapped the picture on my iPhone.

I immediately sent it to a few friends of mine with the caption, “You don’t see this every day! Only Down South!” and added the emoji of two hands in the air, worshipping (or at least that’s what I use that emoji for).

The next day I decided to go to that specific McDonald’s to buy a gift card and as soon as I pulled in, I saw that beautiful nativity scene with Jesus’ name and thought, “More of my friends need to see this!” So I grabbed my phone, and began to post it upon my instagram, facebook, and twitter.

Now, most people have been asking why this was such a big deal to me. Well, I grew up in Michigan (the Mitten State) and in the specific metro Detroit area that I grew up in, you would never see anything like this on a McDonald’s store front window. Don’t get me wrong here, I love my home state of Michigan and I am proud to be a “Metro-Detroiter”, but things are different when you compare the Northern States to the Southern States. Christian beliefs are not celebrated as much in Michigan as they are in the Bible-Belt. So seeing the name of Jesus painted upon the McDonald’s store front window made my day and I wanted others to witness it as well.

Within a few hours of posting that photo my phone was blowing up with notifications. Thousands of facebook likes, shares, and comments began to flood my screen. I was in total shock.

And now, thanks to social media, here we are. A few days later, the simple photo that I took has gone completely viral. Local and major news outlets such as Fox News, ABC, Woman’s Day, faithit, Western Journalism, and CBN News have created story after story in regards to this one post.

Yet it all boils down to this simple matter: we are currently living in a world where talking about Jesus is considered offensive and painting a nativity scene upon a McDonald’s is redeemed as dangerous and radical. I beg to differ on those beliefs and instead I want to applaud co-owner Gina Wolfe for being the example of a Christian living out publicly what she believes inwardly.

It's about being bold, in love, for what you believe in, despite what others may say. That's what I stand for and that is why I shared the picture. I'm glad this specific McDonald's is gaining the coverage they deserve, and I am proud that God is receiving the glory for what He offered us through His Son, Jesus…and that is eternal everlasting life. That is what it's all about and that is why we celebrate Christmas.

1 John 5:11 - And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, (Jesus).

Amy Basel