Merry Christmas
“Merry Christmas!!” said Anne to her neighbors as she walked down the road with her 5 year old son. Anne always went walking a few days before Christmas just to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. And every year she’d have the same response from people, a smile, a wave, and a Merry Christmas right back. However this year was different then the others. Whenever she said Merry Christmas she kept getting cold glances and “Happy Holidays” instead. “What happened to everyone’s joy, smiles, and warm attitudes?” she wondered to herself. That used to be the greeting of everyone near and far. Her memories were of walking down the road singing Christmas songs, gathering with loved ones, friends and family, and reflecting on Jesus’ birth. It was a time full of smiles, laughter, and joy.
Yet nowadays why is that we can barely say “Merry Christmas” without someone’s disapproval? Is it because it has too much to do with Jesus Christ? I don’t know why, but I do know that Christmas is supposed to be a time when we reflect on Jesus. Yes, the presents are nice. Yes, we love spending time with our families. And yes, we love the great food. But there’s more to it than that. I was sitting at a practice for my church’s Christmas program the other day when something my pastor’s wife said to us struck me very hard: so many times we go through the Holidays just to go through them. It seems more like a hassle. We have to hurry up and wrap the gifts, make dinner, make sure the house is perfect for the in-laws. This is not what Christmas is about. She told us she had been learning to relax and have fun – to get that joy back into life and the skip back in our step.
Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever have. Santa brings us gifts, but Jesus gives us eternal life. He has prepared mansions for us, He has given us the choice of salvation, He loves us no matter what . . . and He always gives the best hugs. Galatians 5:22 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. Jesus is all these things, and He wants them to be alive in us this Christmas season.
So don’t let people pressure you into saying “Happy Holidays” if you mean something else. Yes, the holiday may be happy. But it’s also more than that. As for me, I’m going to say “Merry Christmas” because that’s what it is to me – why would I take away something that is that significant and special? I encourage you this Christmas season to let that smile slide across your face, let the joy that God has given you rise up and to let the Christmas Spirit be alive in you. Do this because Jesus was born in a manger and died on a tree – for us. If the least we can do for Him is change the way we see Christmas, I think it’s worth a shot.
And from all of us at NFT, “We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, We Wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!” God Bless and may you have the most amazing, joyful, loving, and Jesus-filled Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS all of you NFT’ers!! Go bless you…every one!
Zach and everyone else on the NFT team, thanks for sticking up for Christ and His kingdom all year long. You can be sure He is proud of your courage and witness. Merry Christmas.
Thanks Zach. You and everyone who writes for NFT is a breath of fresh air – all year long.