A Refreshing Christmas Gift

Over the past 10 years I have noticed a directed effort by businesses including the one I work for to avoid the words, “Merry Christmas”.
I’ve heard many, many variations of “Happy Holidays”, and have watched homemade holidays attempt to crowd out the two legitimate celebrations with actual historical significance: Hanukkah, which celebrates the faithfulness of God to His chosen people Israel, and Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus The Messiah, God’s gift of Eternal Salvation to all mankind.

My wife and I went Christmas shopping yesterday, and I was prepared to respond to, “Happy Holidays” with the question, “Which one?” To my pleasant surprise, in nearly every store we shopped someone wished us a Merry Christmas! Even the waitress in the restaurant where we had dinner.

So, I just wanted to say thank you and Merry Christmas to the following:
Winn-Dixie (Groceries)
Wal-Mart
Sears
Target
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Dillards
Mimi’s Café
Carabba’s Italian Grill

Surprisingly, the Salvation Army bell ringers can only say, “Happy Holiday”. I still have to ask them, “which one?” Go figure.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"

Henry W. Longfellow penned the words to what has become a Christmas Classic. His wife had died the previous year in a terrible accident. He then lost his son to death in the War Between the States. In great despair he began the poem, but over the course of its writing, God revealed to him that His Grace was sufficient. You can literally follow the steps back to God in the verses of, "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard the bells on Christmas day their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom
had rolled along th' unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"Hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men."
Yet, pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men."
Then ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day--
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime of peace on earth, good will to men!