Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Christmas V. Holiday Debate

I received this great e-mail the other day. It’s timely, given all of the hullabaloo about the Reason for the Season, Keeping the Christ in Christmas, etc. Obviously, some man or woman wrote this – but I believe s/he was Divinely Inspired as this was written.

Please note, that the whole timing of Christ’s birth thing is not reason enough for me to just not celebrate, but it does kind of put things in perspective, eh? I also agree that we shouldn’t have to de-personalize the holidays with those to whom we are close. My Jewish friends received “Happy Hanukkah” greetings from me, as opposed to the blanket, “Happy Holidays,” msg. I celebrate Christmas, as do a lot of other people, Christians and otherwise – and c’mon, let’s call a spade a spade, right? But, I do see where in business practices, it would be exclusive and possibly offensive to single out a particular celebration over the other – and can see where Happy Holidays suffices - Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah are all culturally holy days – from which we get the word holiday. Not to mention that New Year’s Day is a recognized secular holiday, and it often gets lumped in too.

Anyway, without further ado -

Letter From Jesus Christ, concerning His birthday celebration:

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year, and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Just sayin’, although I do appreciate being remembered… Anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. Or whether it is celebrated on December 25th or July 25th. And remember, while a birthday is nice for us all, if the rest of the year does not communicate love and devotion to the person you're celebrating, the birthday becomes little more than a farce.

If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. I know, I know, you are all going to say, “But, but, but, that is such a tall order – how are we ever going to do that?” Simple. Allow Me to help you.

Now, having said that let Me continue:

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of the Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks is. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. Again, I will help if you are stuck on this one.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Suicide Prevention Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love & Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. And we all know that talk is cheap. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Just love Me & do what I have told you to do.

I'll take care of all the rest.

Trust me,I'll help you.

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love, and remember,

I LOVE YOU!
Jesus

5 comments:

  1. I like this letter. Here's a problem I have with one line:

    5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. Again, I will help if you are stuck on this one.

    Can you forgive someone without inviting them into your life again? What if someone really makes you uncomfortable. Is it "un Christian" like to ignore them, but inside make a pact that you forgive them and want peace for them, but just don't physically want them around? Thoughts? Can you answer here, as opposed to my blog? Thanks. I'll check in.

    Merry Christmas, dear Hammy.

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  2. Mama P -

    CYE - the yahoo account.

    Or just go for the short answer:
    Yes, you can forgive someone without necessarily inviting them back into your life. At least that is the conclusion that I have reached.

    More on how I got there in the e-mail.

    (hugs) dear one :)

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  3. I like this very much.

    Seriously, I'm Jewish and I celebrate Christmas, 'cause what's not to love about "Peace and Goodwill" and all the other messages He brought? I celebrate Gandhi's birthday too.

    But wow! the people with their knickers in a twist over the Loews "family tree" ad just stunned me.

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  4. Yeah, I go overboard sometimes. See my post about talking to Deb (a non-Christian) if you need proof. But it still seems very much like an attack on what we believe. Christmas and Easter are about the only times when everybody in the country has to acknowledge Jesus, whether they blow Him off or look into Him. Now they are taking that away from us! And, of course, this is just one small step. Society will lose more and more of our Jesus priveledges until they start locking us up!

    I get upset. You ever notice how Google changes their silly logo to reflect whatever holiday it is that day? They'll do silly changes for silly things like "National Accorn Day" (I made that one up), but they don't do ANYTHING for Easter! They can't even acknowledge the holiday, because to do so would be to acknowlege the resurrection! It all just makes me angry. And...you wouldn't like me when I'm angry! LOL!

    Whew! Christmas Eve! I am going shopping! (Even though I don't really have any money.) Are you doing anything fun? Any family over? Merry Christmas Hamiam!

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