Merry Christmas!

“Merry Christmas!”
Those words seem to stir uneasy feelings in some. They even bring out hate and violence in some. Why? How can the implied wishes of well-being, peace, and love be offensive to anybody?

The time around the Christmas season (December and January) finds many religions and good people celebrating important things with respect to their beliefs and in their lives. It might be the birth of Christ, standing up for what it right, or even the writings of their Holy Book. No matter what the celebration is rooted in, these celebrations are all good. They are the positive aspects of humanity – goodness, peace, and love. They are all based on God in one way or another, and/or things He has done. Whether He gave a virgin a child, allowed one day of oil to last 8 days, or inspired the first words of one's belief to be written, it makes no difference to me.

With that in mind, if you choose to wish me well, do so in any way that has meaning to you. Accept my well wishes to you in the same light. Wish me “Happy Hannukah” or “Happy Holidays” if you like. I might return the wish in kind, but I will most likely wish you “Merry Christmas” in return. Feel free to translate it into the way you believe. Celebrate the way you wish. Let us all have tolerance and respect for the many different ways that others choose to celebrate.

As for me, I believe that God is the Creator of everything, and has a Son that was born to a virgin, and that His Son's birth is the sole reason we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December every year. You may believe as you wish. :)

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Have a happy and safe holiday season.