This one is for all you Grinches out there who need some heart medicine. Patrick Greene, an atheist from San Antonio, threatened a lawsuit last year over a nativity scene on Henderson County’s courthouse lawn. When he fell ill, local Christians took up donations on his behalf. The act so touched him that he decided to donate a Christmas star to the county’s beautification project. That’s right. A Christmas star.

“I went to Walmart, bought a cardboard box, got some gift wrapping material and made up a sign that said, ‘This star is a gift from two Texas atheists, Merry Christmas,’” he said.

Greene had this to say about the Freedom from Religion Foundation, the atheist organization responsible for much of the anti-Christian legal battle across America, including in Henderson County.

“You don’t just push yourself into some place and insult people while you’re doing it,” he said. “We thought it was arrogant for Freedom From Religion Foundation to insult people, just to make a point.”

He said when he heard the county denied the foundation’s requests, “I told my wife that because of the animosity that grew toward atheists in general, that we should tell people — and make it a point — that atheists are the ones that gave them that star.”

The Christian community in Henderson showed what Christianity is really about. “Being Christ” to people is to show compassion to all, even those who may hate us. Hats off to Patrick Greene for returning the act of goodwill.

Having said all of that, I am very confused that Greene threatens a lawsuit to have it all removed if the county does not agree to place his star and sign in their display.

If the sign and star are not displayed, Greene said he is drawing up a lawsuit that he will likely file against Henderson County this week or next week, claiming the entire Christmas display violates Texas Constitution because it infers the county is endorsing a religion.

“If people are insulted by my sign that said ‘atheist,’ then they have no intention of fostering the Christmas message, because goodwill toward men goes both ways,” Greene said.

There really is enough room in America for all of us. There is nothing evil about a Christmas star on a public square. If the county were denying Jews the right to vote, or forcing atheists to attend a church service, or otherwise acting out against the freedom of non-Christians, there would be a major problem. A nativity scene only harms those who are intolerant of it, and if you are intolerant of it, then you need to get over your intolerance. When you do that, you will no longer feel harmed by it.

If we spent our resources working together to express good things, instead of driving resentments and attacking each other when we disagree, we would be fulfilling what our country is all about.