2013 Holidays

The following post contains multiple references to my religious beliefs and my savior, God. If that offends you, please skip this post. You have been warned.

 

It is that time of year again. The holidays are upon us. It is time to show our holiday cheer by shopping till we drop!

No, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you probably already know that last line was meant to be tongue in cheek. Thanksgiving is in a couple of days. It is this time of year that, sadly, I have to laugh at a lot of what I see in these troubling times. I actually spoke to a young lady in the store a while back who was all excited about Thanksgiving, while also proclaiming that she doesn't believe in God. It amazes me that someone could be that dim. If she doesn't believe in God, what or who is she giving thanks to?

The cookie monster?

The television?

Her job or her government?

Seriously. The entire idea of Thanksgiving was founded on giving thanks to God for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. So, that being said, I personally have many things to be thankful for this year. Fist, I am above ground. Yes, I think life itself is a blessing. Also, there is my wife, my kids, and so many other things that I could go on for hours and bore the bejeebies out of all my readers. The point is though, I thank God for all of this.

God.

Lord.

Jesus.

My Savior.

The Almighty.

If that offends anyone, I am not sorry one tiny bit. I am not offended by your beliefs or lack thereof. So my beliefs, by default, should not offend anyone else since I do not force them upon anyone.

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That being said, past Thanksgiving we get into the next holiday that always puts me in a bad mood. Why does it? Well I will go into that and then explain why I refuse to get in a bad mood this year. I am going to play the game.

What gets my goat this time of year is the modern idea that we should celebrate this religious holiday but yet take God and any mention of him out of the equation. It has gotten to the point that Xmas wasn't even good enough. People these days are so afraid that Christ may actually be put into it that they won't even say Merry Christmas anymore. They say, "Happy Holidays".

I have always gotten aggrevated with this whole scenerio. Christmas, whether you believe it to be the celebration of the birst of Christ or not, was started many moons ago on the basis of that one belief. The act of giving presents is even based in the tales of the wise men bringing presents to the newborn baby Jesus.

Let me back up and tell you about the most obsurd conversation I've ever had in my life on this subject. Last year I met a self proclaimed athiest. He said that the story of Jesus was the biggest fairy tale ever told. So the conversation went like this:

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So you don't believe in Jesus?

No.

But you celebrate Christmas?

No. I celebrate the holidays.

So do you give and recieve presents?

Yes.

So where do you get the idea to give presents on this holiday?

Well when you're young it is Santa Clause.

So you believe in Santa?

No. That's just where it starts. You learn better when you are older, but still enjoy the ritual of giving and recieving presents.

So where did that ritual start?

Well it started with a story about wise men bringing presents to Jesus.

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So there you have it folks. According to the athiest that I spoke to, Christmas, or holidays if you wish, and the very thing that most people like most about it, the presents, whether you believe the story or not, started with what?

Jesus.

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So this year I am making a vow here and now. I refuse to get upset this year about the almost criminal theft of a religious holiday only to turn it into a commercialized excuse to sell more crap by a society that is so wrapped up in itself to stop and consider for even one second that the reason for the season is not at all about sales, but about Jesus. So if anyone would consider this and how this holiday got started, they shouldn't have any issue whatsoever if they tell me happy holidays and I look at them with a smile and say, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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I want to wish you all right now, before it gets away from me (because as I get older time does get away from me way too quickly), HAPPY THANKSGIVING, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND MAY THE LORD B E WITH YOU AND YOURS INTO THE NEW YEAR!