Talking about Christmas on the internet is hard for me because I do not desire to offend anyone. I know that for some people any discussion of God, Christ, or religion is painful. I know for a fact that many of my readers and online friends have belief systems that differ from my own and I try to make sure that my blog is as friendly a place as I can make it. Sometimes this desire leads me to self edit. I change the shape of the things I want to say to make them as generally acceptable as possible. Sometimes that is a good change, because it forces me to look at my thoughts from other angles which opens up new ideas. Other times it means that entire posts don’t get written at all because I don’t want to offend someone else or open up for comment a subject that is sacred to me.
But then I remember how happy I was to receive the Eid al Fatr card at the end of the fast of Ramadan wishing me “Eid Mubarak.” I was delighted that someone with a different religious tradition than mine would reach out to me and ask me to share in the joy of their holy day. That card still hangs on my wall amid the Christmas Cards. If I ever receive Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Solstice cards they will all receive a similar place of honor in my home. I love being invited to participate in the celebration, even if the celebration in question is one outside my personal belief system.
This experience makes me re-evaluate my expression of my holiday beliefs. Is my effort to not offed really depriving people of the chance to participate in a celebration I enjoy? Because I do believe in Christmas. I believe in, Baby Jesus, manger, angels, the whole thing. My Christmas celebrations try to center around love, acceptance, and giving. I also believe in the later stories of Jesus, crucifixion, resurrection, and salvation. Sometimes my logical brain argues with me about these beliefs. Sometimes I ponder and analyze and even doubt, but whenever I search my soul and ask myself if I truly believe these things, the answer is yes. This faith has given me strength in the dark times of my life, it has given me courage to do the things I know I must, it gives me hope that everything which is not right in this world will eventually be made right. I do believe, and because I believe Christmas is truly a holy day for me. I love it. I love sharing it with my children and watching them grow to love it as well. I know how I feel about my holy day, which is why I am so honored when others open themselves up to share their holy days with me. Because I expect they feel the same way about their beliefs as I do about mine.
And so I hope that all of you will take it in the spirit I intend when I say:
In this season of giving I am grateful for the gift of attention and caring that you have given me. Merry Christmas to you all.
Please don’t self edit! Those of us who read your journal want to know what you’re thinking/feeling/doing and anyone who is not ok with your religion or viewpoint should probably not be reading.
Personally, I find the fresh view point keeps me from becoming too set in my own ways.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!
And to you and Howard as well. I trust your family has enjoyed a merry one!
We did have a wonderful holiday. It sounds like yours was enjoyable as well.
I’ll try not to edit too much, but I do have to do some or else the entries would be full of spelling and grammar errors. 🙂
We did thanks!
LOL!! I meant for content… and well you know it. You don’t want to see my spelling before I correct it.
You share your beliefs in a positive, personal way that are a gift of sharing with the reader. You don’t tell others they are wrong if they don’t believe the way you do. You simply say what you believe and how it makes you feel. When it comes to religion some people are looking to be offended even when no offense was intended. I think most of your readers are open-minded like yourself and enjoy learning about you. Sharing the joy of special days with others is a gift. One that you offer but don’t push, and you allow us to receive it how we will.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I try to seek out experiences of other faiths within the exception that I won’t do anything against my own (LDS) faith in the process. I have spent holly week and midnight mass with Catholics and observed Ramadan as a Hijabbi. I choose to treat like like a pilgramage.
Ona
The only religious ‘discussion’ I dislike is the sort that says “Believe and act as my religion says you should… or else.” I am fascinated by journeys of faith and take well wishing, whatever the form of the words, in the spirit it was intended. In your case I have no doubt that the spirit behind the words is one of kindness.