I feel I should clarify

So as not to offend my Christian friends, I feel I should clarify my views on this whole Christ in Christmas thing.

1st, we need to acknowledge that there are 2 kinds of Christmas now. Whether that's right or wrong doesn't really matter. It just IS. Secular Christmas, the one where people shop and sing Jingle Bells and wrap stuff in pretty paper and eat a large meal, is probably most widely celebrated here in the US. I don't know that for sure, I'm guessing. Religious Christmas, the one where people live the nativity and refuse to use snow in nativity scenes since Christ was born in the desert and do charitable works and go to church several times in the course of a week is less practiced but much is preached regarding how this is the ONLY way to celebrate. I changed my mind, a combination of the 2 is probably the most widely celebrated in the states.

The people I have a beef with are the ones whining and complaining and blaming ME for the lack of Christ in Christmas. First off, as I've already pointed out, we don't celebrate Christmas. Well, at least here in MY house, we celebrate Solstice. At my MIL's house Santa and candy canes abound, but that's her gig.

My whole main point is, if Christ is missing from Christmas then that's not my problem, lol. It's really not. I don't have any problem with a secular style Christmas. If you do, then you should change that. If your holiday isn't what you wish it was then hanging around on message boards and preaching about it is about as unproductive as you can possibly get. You're either falling on deaf ears or preaching to the choir, so to speak.

On a further note, you don't have to be Christian to embrace the spirit (haha) of the season. You don't have to be Christian to have morals, principles, and values either, but that's a post for another day. You can do good and be good and not call yourself Christian. You can be the opposite and call yourself Christian.

The bottom line is, Christmas is what you make it. Here, in this house, it's an opportunity to show support and love. For friends, for the community, for strangers we've never met and never will meet, for family, for the earth, for whomever happens to brush by my soul. I try to keep that attitude year round since it isn't just the holidays when people need to be brushed with love. I don't always succeed. I'm not sure overdrawing my bank account to buy items for a family in need was good for my energy or not, lol. But my heart is not overdrawn (goodness, does that sound hoaky!) it's actually bursting, Christ-acknowledged or not. I could be wasting my time spewing on and on about how all things Christian are ACTUALLY pagan, but to what end? In the end, it doesn't really matter. Goodness matters, and I believe that I, for all my faults, am good and that my children and everyone I meet will hopefully see THAT goodness in me despite my lack of a crusty heart (hee-hee). So carry on full steam ahead with doing what feels right for your holiday celebrations and traditions. If it feels right, it probably is.