Christmas is just around the corner and people all over town are wishing you a Merry Christmas, or perhaps they say “Happy Holidays” instead.  Bumper stickers abound telling us to keep Christ in Christmas, and we hear it on the radio, too.  At least, you hear it on the Christian radio stations.  Perhaps you’ve even seen the shorthand version of Christmas: “Xmas.”  So, I have some fun trivia for you today.  You needn’t worry because no matter if someone tells you “Happy Holidays” or writes “Merry Xmas” on your Christmas card, it seems they can’t keep Christ out of Christmas!  Did you know “holidays” originated from “holy days”?  So, if someone wishes you a Happy Holidays they are, perhaps unknowingly, wishing you happy holy days.  As for Xmas?  Interestingly, the shorthand many of my seminary professors use for “Christian” is “Xian,” and “X” for Christ.  Why?  Because the Greek word for Christ is Χριστός, which begins with an X.  The Greek commonly used abbreviations also.  So, it seems that no matter how hard someone may try to take Christ out of Christmas, they cannot.  Christ is here to stay.  Take comfort that we cannot outsmart our God or ruin God’s plan.  And the next time someone wishes you a Happy Holiday, feel free to genuinely wish them them same.

Read Isaiah 9:6-7, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6-7&version=NRSV