A New Response to "Happy Holidays"

What if, “Happy Holidays” was reciprocated with a polite, respectful question, “Which holiday do you celebrate?” And then happily greeting that person accordingly? Why is it so difficult for Americans to personalize their conversations between a cashier and customer? Trust me, it is difficult for me too, but I am changing this year.

No more diluting the meaning of the season...even if it means something different to someone else...ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE BELIEVES IN SOMETHING!!

To mask over this important time of year to many people with an all-inclusive greeting, steals away some respect from those of us who celebrate. When someone says, “Happy Holidays” they are really saying,

“I am sure you are one of the majority who celebrate either Christmas or Hanukkah, but I don't want to acknowledge your belief outright.”

We are in America, Land of Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech! So let's stop hiding our hearts behind our words, and embrace the freedoms that we hold dear.

My first attempt at this new response to “Happy Holidays”:

At Hobby Lobby at closing:

Cashier: Tired, it is the end of the day. “Happy Holidays”

Me: Polite smile and lean in, “Do you celebrate Christmas?” after I noticed some religious jewelry on her finger.

Cashier: Big smile, bright eyes. “Why, yes I do!”

Me: “Well, Merry Christmas!”

Cashier: “Thank you!”

Sad and Happy All at Once

We've started a new tradition at our house: Wednesdays are Family night. It is so easy to get caught up in the sports galore lifestyle, and congest our evenings with driving back and forth for extra activities. We've been there done that, and although there is much to be said for organized sports (our boys are on basketball teams with Coach Daddy), we are going to reserve at least one night of the week for organized FAMILY!

So last night was Family night numero uno... On the agenda was:

--Make a plan for Giving this year...we are going to be intentional about giving to at least one organization/week or providing needs for people in the community at least once a week up to Christmas."We're gonna get AFTER we give!" Check out your local radio stations for ideas...our list keeps growing!

2007

--Eat popcorn and drank cocoa while watching Family videos. This was the best therapy I've had in a long time. We watched a Christmas video when we just had two toddlers. And then we watched a video of Batman Daddy role-playing with Spider Man and Baby Monster...wow, we had energy back then! It was a tear jerker only because we saw how much joy we have let slip away as we've grown older. Life with the little ones was so much fun! It seemed so simple back then.

What got me most, was my nine year old seemed to feel the same as me. He said, "That was happy and sad."
I asked, "Why was it sad?"

"We just don't play Batman and Spider man anymore. I want to go back to that time."
He knew. He felt the small loss of innocence...not that he's not innocent now, but he knows that to play like that now is not for him...he's outgrown it. Daddy spends a ton of time with his kids now...they play guitar together, drums together, play sports, go to the local nature trails...Daddy is a superhero! But, my little boy is growing fast and he knows it. We need to make these days better than each yesterday.

I have been in a funk lately. I let materialism get to me in this recent move. I let the kinks become big ol' knots. I am done being like this. I want to make this time the best ever, and next month to outshine now, and so on and so on. So one day when we look back, it will be sad and happy all at once!

Christmas Plans: 12 Days of Giving

I have never been more convicted about the holidays until these past couple of years. Now that the boys are older, I realize how disgustingly materialistic our culture is, and how it has crept into the hearts of my sons and cultivated greed. They hear us say that "It's about Jesus's birth" but in the end, it's about the presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Now, I LOVE the excitement of Christmas morning!! It is so much fun to see the kids race to the tree and squeal with delight. Every good parent loves giving good things to their children, right?

But, what if we gave them a "small" token after a "large" time of giving? What if the prize at the end was just that, a prize for giving time and effort to blessing others? Not that they "earn" it, but they "receive" a gift just as everyone they had given gifts to?

Okay, so I am typing as I'm thinking, so it may sound gibberish...but this year, our family is doing away with the big Christmas (well, we can't stop grandparents, and extended family...they love to give to the boys and I would never take that away). We are going to implement:

The 12 Days of Giving

Starting on December 12th, we are going to sit as a family each night and make gifts for the designated person/people/charity. I have already sketched out each person and charity we want to bless, and the kids will get to shop for the materials, and even decide what to make. On Christmas Eve, our final gift will be one to Jesus, we will talk about the fruits of the Spirit, what we want to "give" Him this next year... (kinda like New Year's resolution, Jesus style). And on Christmas morning, the boys will receive, just as everyone before them had. After all, one of our family values is: "I am third"- God, Others, then me.

We've already started talking to them about it, and they seemed to get it...we've emphasized "It is a bigger blessing to give than to receive". We also shared with them that the reason gifts came about on Christmas is because we are celebrating the "birthday" of Jesus, our BEST present from God. They are excited to jumpstart this season with Operation Christmas Child this week! I am so looking forward to the holidays now! :)

Do you have any fun and meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays without giving into consumerism?