From Where I Sit...

Do, They Know It's Christmas?

At Christmas time I'm sure many of you get the same emails I do regarding the de-Christing of Christmas. We are urged to forward the email at the risk of shaming ourselves in Christ's name if we don't. Well, I usually don't forward them.

Gasp!
Shock!
(sound of plate dropping)

And yet, I do agree with the message being sent. Albeit with my own take on it.
My sister, Gail, sent me a poem email on this subject which I had not seen before.

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '..

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

Not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and

Wish everyone you meet during the

Holidays a

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Now, I agree with the theme of this poem. But, I will not change what I do. Truth is, not many people will change. Not enough anyway.

If people were really that offended by a store saying, Happy Holiday versus Merry Christmas, they would stop shopping there. And if enough people stopped shopping at a store, the store would change their ways. In the end it all come down to money. This is a hard and fast rule.

Now, what is wrong with saying Happy Holidays I ask? I think it is fair to say 99.9% of the world population realizes that this time of year and December 25th is Christmas time.

So when you say things like;

• Happy Holidays
• Seasons Greetings
• Happy Ho Ho
• May Your Jingles Jangle

It is safe to assume all of the above are meaning, Merry Christmas. So what's wrong with that?

I did a little research and found Christian influenced activities on some of the so called anti-Christian websites.

• Kmart - help support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Sears - Heros at Home
• Starbucks - The Global Fund

It would be better if a business didn't use Christ to sell at all. Ask yourself the following question. Which is better, a store that wishes all a Merry Christmas and helps no one or a store that wishes Happy Holidays and helps others?

Better yet, what have you done for others this season?

In case anybody has forgotten, here is what Christmas is all about.

Merry Holidays this Christmas.