"We wish you a ..."

Which is your choice, Merry Christmas or Merry Xmas or Happy Holidays? Every year this debate surfaces the closer we get to Christmas. Listening to His Radio, WLFJ, in my pick-up one day this issue was the source of a listener generated poll. Putting Christ back into Christmas dominated listener views as one might expect. His Radio was even handing out stickers to put on clothing which said “Wish me a Merry Christmas”. This discussion went on for a week as listeners constantly called the station. The station soon aired a holiday greeting that said “From our family to yours, wishing you a happy holiday”. I about wrecked my pick-up because I was laughing so hard.



Which greeting is your choice? The “X” in Xmas is the Greek letter “Chi” which is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ. It is the holiday season, so “Happy Holidays” recognizes this season as a festive time of year. It seems either greeting will suffice. Oh yeah, I do prefer “Merry Christmas”. Preference depends upon one’s comfort level. During Christmas our thoughts often turn towards parties or entertaining friends. Families gather together in the warmth of homes filled with love. The Christmas Story in the Gospel of Luke 2 may be read at home or heard in a church service pointing toward God’s promises. Isn’t this season to be about hope? How does a holiday debate promote peace?


Regardless of the greeting, this time of the year promotes peace. The meaning of “Peace on earth and goodwill towards men” is forgotten in the debate. Not long ago we, Church of the Palms, served as a host church for Family Promise. I, for one, am grateful for the many churches which participate in this program. I served as one of the over night chaperones in case someone needed anything. Breakfast was prepared the next morning for the families before work and or school. I walked around a corner and was greeted by the joy of a smiling face of a child. For this young girl, someone cared enough to make sure her needs were met and that she was loved wherever she happened to be. Isn’t this the hope we look for during Christmas? No mater the preference of greeting, if we live out the words of hope there will be “Peace on earth and goodwill towards all humankind”.