I fondly remember a time and place were one could say Merry Christmas without offending every Tom, Dick, or Harry, but that bygone era is … well … gone. Christmas Cheer has been replaced with generic “… Wishing you and yours a joyous Holiday Season …”
I suppose from a “we should not exclude or offend anyone” standpoint a neutered holiday greeting is all well and good, if not a little disappointing. It is not as if Christians everywhere go out of their way to spit in the faces of non-believers, doing their level best to be as offensive as possible with a Merry Christmas greeting.
Alas, for Christians, Christmas is a festive time, which unfortunately has become synonymous with shopping. Ah, commercialism has a way of spoiling (or exploiting) darn near every special occasion out there, which is really a shame. Then again, to be perfectly honest, I expect Santa to hide a few PS3 games under my Christmas tree!
Thankfully we have Linus Van Pelt to help remind everyone what Christmas is all about.
Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Linus Van Pelt: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'”
Linus Van Pelt: That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
I do wish everyone a great holiday season, but most of all on this Christmas Eve, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
