Maybe we should just say I love you...

Somehow it's almost December,  I have absolutely no idea how that happened. Summer was here, I closed my eyes, and now its almost Christmas. With that brings all the hustle and bustle that comes with December and the old dreaded 'Happy Holidays' debate. Groan. Double groan.
I've already seen several posts come up about it on my Facebook news feed, and guess what, I'm chiming in too! ; )
Just so you all know my perspective on this issue, I am Christian, I am raising my children as Christians, but my husband does not identify as a Christian (though shares many of our values). I also have other non-believers in my family, as well as other family members and friends who practice different religions.

There seems to be this trend going on where Christians are concerned that the general public are forgetting about the 'reason for the season'. The thought is, as Christians, we should be correcting people when they say Happy Holidays to help solve this problem. When someone says Happy Holidays to you, and you come back and say, "you mean Merry Christmas", or something along those lines, you aren't going to remind them about Jesus, you are probably going to make them wish they didn't talk to you in the first place.

Let me tell you fellow Christians, if you aren't already aware, we don't always have the best 'reputation' among people with beliefs different than ours. We don't need to reinforce their negative beliefs about us by singling people out during the holiday season. People are busy enough and stressed enough.  How about instead we try and demonstrate the behaviours us as Christians should be trying to demonstrate every single day. Be the light in their busy day. Instead of worrying about whether or not someone says Happy Holidays, lets start with doing things that should already be evident in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Be the person that lets someone go ahead in line, help a lost shopper find what they are looking for, donate, spend time with people, cook a meal for someone, hold open a door, smile to that busy cashier who can't get a break. Hey, in the midst of this busy time, don't you think those behaviours would turn more heads (in a good way of course!) and reflect who you want to be as a Christian, rather than making someone feel awkward because they wished you a Happy Holidays....

Jesus calls us to love others, so lets actually do it. Do things like this silly debate actually reflect our LOVE?? I think not...

~Angela xo


But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12 29:31