I've been thinking (I know, that can be dangerous, but anyway...) and I realized that while I'm not the least bit offended by someone wishing me Happy Holidays, Happy Solstice, a Merry Yule, or whatever... I am offended by my fellow Christians who are militantly telling other people to get used to hearing "Merry Christmas" and that they don't care if others are offended by the phrase. Really? You don't care?
Somehow, I don't think this is how Christ would have dealt with it all. Is this how we love others? By being insensitive to their traditions and beliefs? Would Christ have shown offense over being snubbed? He didn't on the cross, when He pardoned the thief. While it may seem as if you are standing up for Christianity, you aren't. Christmas celebrations are a tradition, not a doctrinal position. I truly embrace the faith focus of Christmas as the date we celebrate Christ's birth; but Christ never celebrated birth days, and really, Easter is a more fitting tribute to the reason He came.
If you're looking for an example of how we should act at Christmas, He gave us one: He humbled Himself to be born among the animals and the poor. We don't exhibit any humility by militantly insisting that others say "Merry Christmas" to us. Okay, that's the end of my lecture. You may disagree with me, and that's okay. I'm not the least bit offended by that.
Merry Christmas to all my friends, and may the New Year be blessed for you and your families.
