If you react in the short term by canceling your holiday plans because of who your relatives voted for, that reaction probably won’t send the message that you hope it will. The message will most likely come across as arrogant, dismissive, closed-minded, disrespectful, or all of the above.

Increasingly, you might find yourself in the same position as many Christians as you look ahead to spending the holidays with family members who voted differently from you.

Should you cancel your plans? Lately, that question has been mentioned on news programs and talk shows. And the answer I’ve heard the most is “Yes.”

But I think that is misguided. There might be many reasons why your Thanksgiving or Christmas activities need to change, but I don’t think “who your relatives voted for” should be among them. Hear me out.

Consider the nature of table fellowship. You don’t have to define it in a politically tribal way. If Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, can’t we share meals with those who hold differing political positions?

A family gathering doesn’t have to last 12 hours. You can join people for a meal, laugh, tell stories, reminisce with loved ones, fill up on good food, and have a meaningful time.

But what if showing up feels awkward? Doing something awkward can be good for us because it helps us develop fortitude and perseverance. Doing something awkward forces you to consider others besides yourself—even others instead of yourself.

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