As we head into the "holiday" season our thoughts turn to shopping, travel plans, and how to handle our family. For most this is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The great debate on what to say, "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Happy Hanukkah", or what ever your supposed to say for Kwanzaa, seems to take precendent over the reason for the holiday. We have people shooting each other over toys, or trampelling someone to death trying to get into the stores. Every year there seems to be a fight over some new doll or something else, that is not even related to the holiday. I'm sure that Elmo was not what god had in mind as an exceptable gift. A t.v. anchor asked Harry Connick Jr. why he makes Christmas music, his honest response "To make as much money as I can over the holidays". This drew a chuckle until he said he was serious. These kind of things remind me how great it is not to have this problem. What a wonderful time for people like me to look at the behavior of Christians and laugh.

I get the darkest looks as if I'm the devil himself when asked what I'm doing for Christmas or the holidays. First of all I laugh inwardly when people are afraid of saying the nature of the holiday for fear of insulting or offending someone. To me this is outrageous. I say have a merry christmas to Christians, Jews, or whomever. If they correct me, I apologize and go on about my day. Should I be offended if someone wishes me a merry christmas? No! I simply say thank you and once again go about my day. I believe that this political correct ground that we all walk so lightly on is one reason of the anger in this country. If people weren't so afraid of insulting someone, who shouldn't be insulted because someone is praying before their meal, or wishing them well, we wouldn't have so many problems. But, I regress.

When asked what I am doing for the holidays, how do I celebrate, what do I tell my children? I merely tell them the truth. My oldest's birthday falls closely so we get him stuff and of course the cake. That's my reason for shopping and involving myself in the battle for goods. How do we celebrate or what do we tell our children? Simple, this is the day that was set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We tell them the christmas story and explain to them that people believe that he was the son of god. Why should you hide religion or beliefs from your children. They understand that there is no Santa, Easter Bunny, or any other misc. fictional character. If my children grow up and find faith then more power to them. But they will KNOW the reason of these holidays and the representation of them. To me if your going to be a follower then you should celebrate responsibly. If the children want lights or a tree, who cares, it's fun and pretty. But there are no santa or any other marketed ornamates or lights. My question is why take away from your savior by worshipping another idol? Isn't that against a couple of commandments? Thou shalt not have any other Gods before me. Isn't that the first? The second being- not to have any images or worshipping to images.  You want a good laugh, look below in amazon at the kneeling santa with baby jesus!  I don't believe that santa was there at the time.

As a seeker of the truth I believe that to know a god you must be like that god. I am not anything like the one called Jesus, I choose not to follow the dogmatic laws. I cannot believe most of the bible and choose to follow science. I do believe in not hiding my children from religion and hope that they will grow to be good upstanding people, god fearing if they choose. I believe that I need to seek the answers that I have through science, but I respect the beliefs and customs of others. That all I can do is try to be polite and respectful to others. To follow the laws of man and science. To me the right to follow whichever religion you choose, god or tree you pray too, should not be put against you. Especially from people wearing a cross while they are drinking sailors under the table and cheating on their significant others with whom ever will get into bed with them. Greed, envy, lust, gluttony, anger, pride, and slouth (which is the avoidance of spiritual work!) seem to take precendent during the holiday's, especially Christmas! To those who need to brush up on their book, these are the seven deadly sins. What are we teaching our children? If you are Christian you are teaching them the long walk into the enemy's grasp. If you are going to celebrate Christmas and be a follower of Christ, please remember why you are celebrating and do what Jesus would do. Then we ALL can truly have a loving, peacefull holidays.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!