As you may have noticed, there's a big brouhaha about greetings this year. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas are fighting a battle to the death. Actually, I think this whole thing got started because of Target or some other retailer last year(didn't it?).
For the last two years, I've searched ebay in order to find and then mail out vintage Christmas cards. I love them...the sentiment, the illustrations and the graphics of the vintage cards are appealing to me. I love sending them and happily did so.
So this morning I noticed another of my friends/family joined an anti Happy Holidays group on FaceBook and it got me to thinking about those vintage Christmas cards. I was a bit nervous when I remembered some of the cards I mailed said Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings and not Merry Christmas(but some did). When I was addressing them, I wasn't thinking about anything other than how cool the cards were and how fun it would be for me to open a Christmas card from 50 years ago.
Anyhow, I got a little worried that I might unintentionally offend some of my friends/family with those cards.
OK, I worry about things too much...often things that don't amount to a heck of a lot. I won't argue with that, it's just me.
Anyhow....I remembered, Jesus doesn't love me any less(nor I Him) when I wish you Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings than He does when I say Merry Christmas.
Perhaps, instead of getting tangled up in words, we Christians should concentrate on thanking God for the gift of love and salvation that He gave to us that day in Bethlehem.
And if our Christmas card offends you, I am truly, truly sorry.
5 comments:
Don't apologise for Christmas cards! If the fact that you took time to think of someone and write and send them a card offends them then they need to think about their own Christian spirit, not you! Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells etc etc!
I've noticed that the vintage cards rarely said "Merry Christmas". I wonder why?
Anyhoo, God knows where your heart is, sweet lady.
I personally think the whole argument is basically a political thing at it's roots. We're fighting to "maintain" our identity as a Christian nation...some people are terrified that we'll lose it if we don't say "Merry Christmas". I think it's about how we behave the other 364 days of the year.
But...I have been saying Merry Christmas to all of the retailers...and they never respond.
:P
btw, I still need your address for the thingie I'm mailing you. It's now a New Year's thingie. ;-)
But i just wanted to wish to everyone ..A merry Christmas and Happy new year..** :D and forget it the all argument...
Well said...actually over here in Northern Ireland most Christians would never dream of saying 'Merry Christmas' - to us 'merry' could be associated with over indulging in alcohol so we don't say that....it is always 'Happy Christmas'....however I know you don't feel like that in the U.S. as someone says don't apologise for Christmas. At all.
Oh, that's funny Joyce! I actually like the sound of "Happy Christmas"! And I worry much too much over what people think and usually, they aren't thinking anything! LOL!
Hope that you had a wonderful & Happy Christmas there in Northern Ireland!
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