“Merry Christmas!” “Have you been a good little girl?” “Is Santa coming to see you this year?” These are often things that we say to children at Christmas time. To adults we say things like, “Merry Christmas! “Is your tree up yet?” “Is your shopping done?”

 

Notice what (WHO) is not mentioned in those conversations –

Christ

 

This has really been on my mind lately because someone wished me a Merry Christmas the other day who I know doesn’t follow Jesus. And I realized in that moment that, to them, it was just words. But then I had to ask myself, are they just words to me too?

 

This is the time of year that we wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We say it to our loved ones, we even say it to strangers. But what does it really mean?

 

Think about it. When you say Merry Christmas are you saying- “Praise God! Jesus, the Savior of the world is born!” OR are you saying- “I hope you have a nice day and that this season is good to you”? 

 

Many, if not most of us say Merry Christmas in December with as much thought as we say Happy Valentine’s Day in February or Happy Thanksgiving in November. Or even Happy Halloween in October.

 

Yet often, we are the same people who are offended when people say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. But if they essentially mean the same thing what does it matter?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t say Merry Christmas. By all means, we should! I’m simply saying we shouldn’t say it so flippantly. And that perhaps it should be followed up by less talk about Santa and more talk about Jesus.

 

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 

That’s something to celebrate! Jesus- the greatest gift of all!

 

PRAISE GOD and 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Teresa Breeding
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