Keeping Christ, and Christ-like Cheer, in Christmas

While the PC Police would have us crush Christ from Christmas and think that the season itself is the reason for the season, Christmas time was placed on our calendar to celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth. Yes, there is evidence that Jesus was actually more likely born on or about April 17, but, Christmas has been celebrated by Christians for centuries to in fact honor and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. This is also Hanukkah for our Jewish friends. It's absurd to try to scrub religion from this holiday when it's in fact a holiday that is based on religion. It's another attempt by liberals to engage in revisionist history and thereby scrub the truth of the past from our history books, and most importantly from our hearts and minds. It doesn't hurt anyone for me to celebrate Christmas or for my Jewish neighbors to celebrate Hanukkah. If our celebration thereof offends you, you're too easily offended and need to grow up and get a life. You don't have to celebrate Christmas but don't try to take it away from me and the millions of Christians around the world, and particularly those of us in America who have the RIGHT to worship as we please (i.e., the FIRST Amendment gives us the right to "FREE EXPRESSSION" of religion without government interference and, out of respect to those of us for whom it is our tradition, private individuals should butt out and permit those of us who want to to celebrate it without your PC hang-ups and hassles).

Duff, the star of "Ace of Cakes", had the best take on this I've heard from anyone. He's Jewish but loves Christmas. While taping a Christmas episode of "Ace of Cakes", he, while wearing a very cute red Santa hat, was asked why did he celebrate Christmas since he is Jewish. His response was that he LOVES Christmas b/c everyone around him is the happiest during the Christmas season and since he loves his friends he is happy to see them happy. That's a very Christ-like attitude!! Many people can learn from him and follow suit.

It is a very happy time of year for most people who celebrate the holiday. Yes, you have those who are already prone to depression get further depressed for a myriad of reasons. You have people who have a screwed up viewpoint on what the season means overspend on the holiday and thus fall into a pit of depression when the credit card bill comes in later. People who are already alcoholics overdo it at the Christmas party and make an ass of themselves like they already do all year long in other venues. These people need professional help all year long and it isn't Christmas' fault. However, for MOST of us, it's a very happy time of year. It's a happy time of year, I think, b/c many people stop focusing on the negative things in their life and instead focus on, among many other positives, figuring out how to spend time with family and friends and finding just the right gift for friends, family and colleagues. There's NOTHING wrong with this. Giving is good for the soul and reminds us of the gift God gave to us all when He sent His Son Jesus to Earth to die for our sins - the ultimate gift that none of us deserve, that none of us can earn but to whom ALL of us is offered if we're willing to receive the gift. See John 3:16.

For Christians - keep a Christ-like attitude during Christmas. I've seen some negative posts that stem from anger, frustration and the like about being told by some PC idiot that Christ shouldn't be in Christmas. I understand your frustration, it's why I'm writing this post. However, when you want to lash out, pray for the PC idiot instead. Keep in mind why WE celebrate this season and thank God for sending His Son as the ultimate Christmas gift and pray that the PC idiot with also accept that ultimate gift in their lives. Don't overspend to absolve guilt over other things that may happen throughout the year. If you can't pay off the credit card by February, don't buy the gift! Save your money, you're going to need it if the tax hikes being discussed in DC are passed. It's far more important to spend time with your families and let them know in a variety of ways that you love and care for them. Be a listening ear, a supportive word of encouragement, or the one who says "I love you" first.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Fabulous Festivus, or whatever you choose to celebrate. But, most of all, I wish all of you a Christ-like holiday season where we enjoy time with loved ones, where we enjoy giving to loved ones and where we remember to be thankful for the very brief time we have here on Earth to enjoy those things. Merry Christmas!