From Halloween to Thanksgiving and on through the New Year’s celebrations, I adore the holidays. I’m not a person to whine and moan if you say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” I respond in a friendly way if you say simply “Hey,” or “Have a nice day,” or “Merry Whatever,” or even if you only smile at me.
I don’t believe there’s a “war on Christmas.” Good grief, the Christmas holiday has taken over all the rest of them, beginning with Halloween. If there’s a “war” going on, Christmas is winning. Even here in Alpine, I was tripping over boxes of Christmas decorations while looking for something for Halloween in mid-October. So please stop worrying that mysterious evil forces are trying to take Christmas away from you. That’s in your head.
I believe this so-called war is just another sad ploy to make us fear and suspect people who believe differently than we do or who act or think differently than we do. It’s a way of pitting us against each other, as if another way is needed. While I think it’s criminal to do that to us, nobody seems to be going to jail over it.
This is the time of year we should be coming together with love in our hearts. I believe every day should be approached that way, but it should be especially true for a holiday bearing Christ’s name, wouldn’t you think? All he ever really asked of us was to love one another. So if you’re a Christian, you should take that to heart and stop fighting a war that doesn’t exist.
The passive-aggressive messages about “wrong” Christmas greetings started on Facebook and in emails even before we celebrated Thanksgiving. People who announce publicly what I can and cannot say to them in greeting most likely will just get passed over by me. Why risk the wrath? There are too many people with hearts full of joy and kindness to spend time with the ones who try to tell me how to feel and what to say.
Here’s an idea: I have a disabled friend who lives on a tight budget in Arizona. She doesn’t have children but, because she has a huge heart full of Christmas spirit, she is making a memorable holiday for a neighbor who is a single mother with a small son. My friend knows that this young woman works two jobs in an effort to support her family, but there is nothing left over afterward for toys, new clothes, or special holiday food. My friend has enlisted the help of her own family and friends and is providing the things they wouldn’t have otherwise. What a beautiful way to say Merry Christmas.
What if, instead of complaining, we all did just one generous, loving thing like that? Instead of running scared that Christmas is being taken away, make a bold statement of kindness in your community. It could be a random, secret act, or a bold action. Prove to the world that Christmas is alive and well. If it lives in our hearts, nobody can ever take it from us.
No matter what you celebrate, even if you don’t celebrate anything, I wish you love and peace and kindness in your life.
I don’t believe there’s a “war on Christmas.” Good grief, the Christmas holiday has taken over all the rest of them, beginning with Halloween. If there’s a “war” going on, Christmas is winning. Even here in Alpine, I was tripping over boxes of Christmas decorations while looking for something for Halloween in mid-October. So please stop worrying that mysterious evil forces are trying to take Christmas away from you. That’s in your head.
I believe this so-called war is just another sad ploy to make us fear and suspect people who believe differently than we do or who act or think differently than we do. It’s a way of pitting us against each other, as if another way is needed. While I think it’s criminal to do that to us, nobody seems to be going to jail over it.
This is the time of year we should be coming together with love in our hearts. I believe every day should be approached that way, but it should be especially true for a holiday bearing Christ’s name, wouldn’t you think? All he ever really asked of us was to love one another. So if you’re a Christian, you should take that to heart and stop fighting a war that doesn’t exist.
The passive-aggressive messages about “wrong” Christmas greetings started on Facebook and in emails even before we celebrated Thanksgiving. People who announce publicly what I can and cannot say to them in greeting most likely will just get passed over by me. Why risk the wrath? There are too many people with hearts full of joy and kindness to spend time with the ones who try to tell me how to feel and what to say.
Here’s an idea: I have a disabled friend who lives on a tight budget in Arizona. She doesn’t have children but, because she has a huge heart full of Christmas spirit, she is making a memorable holiday for a neighbor who is a single mother with a small son. My friend knows that this young woman works two jobs in an effort to support her family, but there is nothing left over afterward for toys, new clothes, or special holiday food. My friend has enlisted the help of her own family and friends and is providing the things they wouldn’t have otherwise. What a beautiful way to say Merry Christmas.
What if, instead of complaining, we all did just one generous, loving thing like that? Instead of running scared that Christmas is being taken away, make a bold statement of kindness in your community. It could be a random, secret act, or a bold action. Prove to the world that Christmas is alive and well. If it lives in our hearts, nobody can ever take it from us.
No matter what you celebrate, even if you don’t celebrate anything, I wish you love and peace and kindness in your life.
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