It’s just a coincidence that the holiday season follows every bitter election season in America. But by the grace of God, we are now free from 24-hour election coverage. I, for one, anticipate less hostility around the Thanksgiving table and look toward the Advent season in search of a little more faith, hope, and love. You know, some good news.

So far in 2016, America has welcomed 367,712 new citizens from around the world and nearly 3,500 of those individuals live in Tennessee.

America has taken in more than 85,000 refugees from countries in turmoil, delivered 50.1 billion dollars in foreign aid, and participated in the most important exercise in democracy in the world.

Sadly, however, this year will be remembered for the sound bites and videos that captivated and horrified us. This year gave white, middle-class Americans like me a glimpse of African-Americans, Muslims, and immigrants facing discrimination.

A great deal of ire has been directed towards immigrants and refugees. They were carelessly compared on the whole to murderers and rapists when so many are running away from murderers and rapists.

Immigrants and refugees look more like Jesus than I do. They speak a language more closely resembling his language. They suffer the same indignities that he suffered. It’s important this holiday season to remember that the story of Jesus, his reported life and suffering, calls us to show compassion to strangers.

Jesus was left alone in Jerusalem when he was twelve years old. 133,502 unaccompanied children have arrived in the United States from other countries in search of safety in the last two years.

A disciple betrayed Jesus. Thousands of women with children unknowingly buy false immigration papers and are then sold into sexual slavery by smugglers.

Jesus was driven from town to town as he preached the gospel. Eighty percent of females escaping violence in Central America are raped or sexually assaulted in Mexico on their journey to the United States.

Stories such as these are centuries old, but today, they have a modern twist. Most undocumented immigrants don’t need to get back in line; they need a lawyer to fight for their lives.