Celebrate Jesus' Birthday

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas if you are Catholic or not. Merry Christmas to the Jewish. Merry Christmas to the Muslims. Merry Christmas to the Athiests. I'm not writing Merry Christmas to offend anyone, however, I refuse to abide by any politically correct B.S. and say Happy Holidays. Yes, I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday, but it's a Holiday because it's Christ's Birthday. So, if you celebrate the "Holiday", but not the birth of Christ, then why are you celebrating at all?

I don't celebrate Hunnakah (I do apologize for the spelling if it's incorrect). I don't celebrate Kwanza. I don't celebrate Ramadan. Will I be offended if you wish me a Happy any of these? Nope. But please don't be offended when I say Merry Christmas.

I say Merry Christmas, because if I say anything but, then I feel I have taken away what Christmas truly is. How do you take Christ out of Christmas and still celebrate? Yes, many of us, including myself, definitely engage in the commercial byproduct of Christmas. We also do this for a reason.

When someone has a birthday, others will usually go out and by them a gift. We do not expect anything in return, we just want to give as a way of saying Happy Birthday and celebrating their life. Christmas is the same. It's Christ's Birthday and we want to give presents. We want to celebrate his birth. However, Jesus isn't here in human form to receive his gifts, so we give to one another. We expect nothing in return. Many of us will receive gifts ourselves from those we give to, because they are also giving for the same reason.

I'm not going to say that there aren't people who take the whole commercial experience to a higher level, there are. They need the expensive gifts and the biggest tree. They need the fullest stockings and they are still paying for the season when Spring rolls around. Personally, I don't need all this. I have a small table top tree with lights on it that overlook my tiny table top Manger. It may not sound like much, but it suits the need. Within that tiny Manger under that tiny tree, lies a newborn baby. His name is Jesus. That's all I really need on Christmas. The reminder that a baby was born who would later die for ME. Yes, DIE FOR ME. How do you not celebrate that man's birthday?

I hope there comes a day when the spirit of what Christmas truly is settles into all people's hearts. That's when they will truly have a Blessed Christmas. Yes, I love the lights of Christmas. I love the parties and the gift giving. I love watching my 21 year old son open his presents Christmas morning. I love the Christmas songs and I even love the commercial symbols that we use to show it's the Christmas season, such as Santa, candy canes and Frosty the Snowman. But more than anything...I love to say "Happy Birthday" to the Lord. For if not for his birth, I'd have NOTHING to celebrate.

I understand that if you are not Christian, chances are you will say "Happy Holidays" to me. I will not be offended. However, if when I wish you a "Merry Christmas" and you become offended, please also understand that I really won't care.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I sincerely hope you enjoy Jesus' Birthday! And for those of you who will be celebrating this Christmas without loved ones, because they are one of many fighting for us in the war in Afghanastan, or because they are now living in Heaven to celebrate with Jesus himself, may God Bless You and bring you peace and may he bring a special peace to the loved ones you will miss.