Merry Christmas

nota bene said:

Yes, so much stress. So many "Gottas" that really aren't. As families inevitably grow, gift-giving sometimes becomes ridiculous. My BFF's husband's family finally went with drawing names, which was a great solution for them.

Praise for all the women who manage to pull the holiday gatherings together. There is so much unseen and unappreciated work--the planning, the decorating, the (endless) grocery shopping, the washing of tablecloths and polishing of silver, all of it.
I pretty much gave up a few years ago. I only thought I understood the work my mom put in...but I didn't, and I can't do what she did.

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It's weird, I can spend hours/days prepping for Thanksgiving or Christmas and then it sees like it's over in a couple of hours if that.

gfm7175 said:

I respect their culture, and anyone else's culture. I'm just not going to wish people things which have no meaning to me. It's meaningless words at that point.

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You're wishing them happy holy days (whatever that means to them). That's the root of Holiday. When you wish them Merry Christmas, what is that supposed to mean to someone who is Jewish?

pillars said:

You're wishing them happy holy days (whatever that means to them). That's the root of Holiday. When you wish them Merry Christmas, what is that supposed to mean to someone who is Jewish?

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It basically means 'best wishes for this holiday season', no matter what words you use. I think people overthink it. If someone says 'Happy Holidays' to me, I say Happy Holidays right back. If someone says "merry Christmas', I say "Merry Christmas' right back. If someone says Happy Hanukkah, i say Happy Hanukkah right back. In this time of year, I think the best advice is DBAJ. Of course, that advice is good all year round.

gfm7175 said:

I have read the Bible and I keep learning something new (about him, and in general) from it each day as wisdom is revealed to me through the Holy Spirit. I strive to live my life in a non-sinful way, although I unfortunately fail at that many times every single day, and could possibly be doing so right now. Wishing someone Merry Christmas, to me, is wishing someone a happy celebration of the birth of Christ, and focusing on what Christ did to save all of us sinners, so that is what I say to people because I would love for all people to be eternally saved.

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That was a heartfelt statement you gave and I believe an honest one.

nota bene said:

Yes, so much stress. So many "Gottas" that really aren't. As families inevitably grow, gift-giving sometimes becomes ridiculous. My BFF's husband's family finally went with drawing names, which was a great solution for them.

Praise for all the women who manage to pull the holiday gatherings together. There is so much unseen and unappreciated work--the planning, the decorating, the (endless) grocery shopping, the washing of tablecloths and polishing of silver, all of it.
I pretty much gave up a few years ago. I only thought I understood the work my mom put in...but I didn't, and I can't do what she did.

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Though it is a lot of work, OHHHHH YESSSSS, I always found it an opportunity to witness to my guests and especially my grandchildren the meaning of Christmas.


First it started off with the Legend of the Candy Cane with the children. I know you are familiar with it. I would have the grandkids and any other kids present gather round and share that story and then they hung the candy canes on the Christmas tree. Almost all years the candy canes hung by the kids were on the first two boughs of the tree the highest they could reach.

I would make a birthday cake for Yeshua. We would sing Happy Birthday and the kids would blow out the candles and then I took that opportunity to share with them that the presents they were about to receive were because of Yeshua's birthday. I would ask them could they ever think of a time when they received such wonderful gifts when it wasn't their birthday? And then the children mini sermon followed and ended in prayer before opening presents.

I am 65 and would walk through broken glass to have an opportunity to share the Gospel with a little one.

It is getting harder each year to host Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the grandkids, starting with the oldest being 22 says it wouldn't the same if it wasn't at the Grandparents to the youngest who is 6. So praise the Lord and pass the IBuprofin.

Elvira said:

Like starting with the fact that Dec. 25th is not Christ's birthday...and it's not his birth but his death that gives us the chance for life...

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It's not His death but, rather, His resurrection.