I& #39;m a campus pastor. I try to show university students the best portion of the love of Jesus my compassion and caffeine intake can muster.

And I& #39;m about to enter an annual ritual in my line of work: talking to students who know they aren& #39;t welcome home for Christmas.

Now, admittedly, it is the rare and extreme case of students who are not allowed to walk in the doors of their parents& #39; home. But there are so many more who have learned they have leave part of themselves at school, hidden from their families.

The atheist part. Or the Christian part. Depending on family. The part of them that is gay. The part of them that is gender nonconforming. The part of them who doesn& #39;t want to be a doctor or lawyer and wants to study humanities.

The part of them that is in love with someone their family doesn& #39;t approve of. The part of them that is mentally ill, and doesn& #39;t want to be ashamed.

It is a season many students look for clues from parents and relatives about how welcome their whole selves are. Maybe they are gay and see an uncle condemning them. Maybe they& #39;re dating an immigrant and see an aunt passionately defending a new wall.

December social media opinions make or break so many young Christmases.

Meanwhile, perhaps it is also a time of year to just positively make sure people in your family know you are safe place.

If any of you need a hugging affirming queer uncle this Christmas, I love you, and I am here. Offer especially for, but not limited to, my actual nieces and nephews...

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Let& #39;s make a fabulous December for ALL our family.