The holiday season is a time when friends and family gather together to visit, feast, and exchange gifts with one another. It is also a faith-filled time where religious communities reunite to rekindle their spiritual beliefs. It is truly a joyous season filled with family and religious tradition. But I must agree with Ms. Shigley, that my least favorite holiday tradition is the "annual list of grievances fellow Christians lob around under the pretext of ‘keeping Christ in Christmas.’”
One is not apt to miss this annual appeal from a few conservative Christians. They profess that Christmas is under assault by the government, corporations, and an increasingly secular society. They are vocal and their anger screams across the print (Ross, Quinn, Craft, Williams, USA Today). This is unfortunate because it doesn't represent the majority of Christians and it is not in the spirit of Christmas.
The spirit of Christmas has nothing to do with "Happy Holidays" signs, nativity scenes, or keeping Christianity front and center during the holiday season. Jesus was not born to this world to win a popularity contest. Jesus was born and lived to teach us compassion, to be good neighbors, and to be good stewards of the Earth and its denizens. He led by example and asks us to do the same. This is the spirit of Christmas. No more.
One is not apt to miss this annual appeal from a few conservative Christians. They profess that Christmas is under assault by the government, corporations, and an increasingly secular society. They are vocal and their anger screams across the print (Ross, Quinn, Craft, Williams, USA Today). This is unfortunate because it doesn't represent the majority of Christians and it is not in the spirit of Christmas.
The spirit of Christmas has nothing to do with "Happy Holidays" signs, nativity scenes, or keeping Christianity front and center during the holiday season. Jesus was not born to this world to win a popularity contest. Jesus was born and lived to teach us compassion, to be good neighbors, and to be good stewards of the Earth and its denizens. He led by example and asks us to do the same. This is the spirit of Christmas. No more.
Like Ms. Shigley, I “don’t care if there is – or isn’t – a crèche in front of a grocery store." I would rather “keep Christ in Christmas by marveling at the vulnerable beginning of a tiny child who came to free oppressed, and bring good news to the world.” And of course, try to do my part to live the spirit of Christmas every day.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year! - in other words, Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year! - in other words, Happy Holidays!
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