Do you wish a merry Christmas to everybody?

[bluerose]

Good for you, but don’t be too hard on the manager. Everyone doesn’t have the same strength or courage as you. Some are much more fearful. Jesus accepts us as we are, if we are trying our best.

Well, that’s what I WISH I’d said… the problem is, in an effort to offend the least amount of people, he ends up offending the majority. There are probably less than five people in the store (out of almost 300) that don’t celebrate Christmas, none of them were present at this meeting (everyone knows who they are), and he couldn’t say “Merry Christmas” to me in front of the 25 or so who were there (all of whom responded “Merry Christmas” so it wasn’t like he had to stand alone.) It’s very sad.

 

[CalifCatholic]

I don’t wish a merry Christmas to everybody but am now wondering whether that is right.
For example, when non-Christians wish me a merry Christmas I usually say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. I see their wish as being kind and curteous and I really appreciate it but don’t know if I should respond in the same way given that they don’t believe in Christ. I respond the same way to people who have left the Christian faith and are nasty about it: saying offensive things, ridiculing those who believe, etc. I don’t want to turn my ‘merry Christmas’ into a meaningless greeting.

Is this wrong? What do you do?

I say ot to everyone. The way I see it: If they like it, its cool. If they don’t like it, then I am helping them get over a bad attitude. Its a win win deal.

 

[Teelynn]

It might be time to ask him his feelings. If he lives close to you, invite him for a gettogether and tell him how you feel. In a friendly climate he might open up to you. If he lives too far for a one-on-one chat, write him. In any case, pray for him.

He does in fact live a little too far away. I thought the next time I send him a card (I send Easter Cards to everyone too) I might jot a note to him and see if I get a response. And yes, you’re right, in any case I do in fact pray for him and for all in my family that do not know Christ or might need further conversion on a daily basis. I guess if you think of it, we are all being called to further conversion…kind of a work in progress, but those who are so far away from the truth of Christ need the most prayer.

I must confess, when I first got his card this year, it did irritate me somewhat, because I had the feeling he was trying to discourage the Christmas Card thing. And he must know after all the years of Cards that I’ve sent, that we are Christian people. The thought ran through my mind…“OK next time I send cards I will send one with a Mass offering for you!” Some people that have no belief system do tend to become confrontational about their “egnosticism”…“atheism” or what not. But on 2nd thought I wondered if in fact he was offended by my cards always with a religious theme, thus the need for some (name removed by moderator)ut. Kind of puts me in a spot, but maybe writing a note will help the situation.

 

[frenchbeatle]

I say it to everyone, except for two people: one of my coworkers who is a Muslim, and the other who is Jewish.

 

[JulieAA]

My goodness, doesn’t all of this “correctness” get to any one other than me? I just get so tired of all of this whether it is about saying “Merry Christmas” or simply the “political correctness” of not offending anyone. When I say Merry Christmas to everyone, it is from my heart with absolutely no intention of disrepecting anyone. Afterall, even the Federal holiday is called “Christmas”. Is it not about time for the folks to just get on with more important issues that deserve our time and enery? If you say something negative about our president, then you are against him because he is black…what?? I disagree with most of his policies because of what they represent and I do not care if he is black/white/purple or green. When I was a child, I was called the “wop”…did it hurt my feelings…yes…did I get over it and move on…yes again.

 

[Teelynn]

My goodness, doesn’t all of this “correctness” get to any one other than me? I just get so tired of all of this whether it is about saying “Merry Christmas” or simply the “political correctness” of not offending anyone. When I say Merry Christmas to everyone, it is from my heart with absolutely no intention of disrepecting anyone. Afterall, even the Federal holiday is called “Christmas”. Is it not about time for the folks to just get on with more important issues that deserve our time and enery? If you say something negative about our president, then you are against him because he is black…what?? I disagree with most of his policies because of what they represent and I do not care if he is black/white/purple or green. When I was a child, I was called the “wop”…did it hurt my feelings…yes…did I get over it and move on…yes again.

Couldn’t agree more!

 

[Waiting]

He does in fact live a little too far away. I thought the next time I send him a card (I send Easter Cards to everyone too) I might jot a note to him and see if I get a response. And yes, you’re right, in any case I do in fact pray for him and for all in my family that do not know Christ or might need further conversion on a daily basis. I guess if you think of it, we are all being called to further conversion…kind of a work in progress, but those who are so far away from the truth of Christ need the most prayer.

I must confess, when I first got his card this year, it did irritate me somewhat, because I had the feeling he was trying to discourage the Christmas Card thing. And he must know after all the years of Cards that I’ve sent, that we are Christian people. The thought ran through my mind…“OK next time I send cards I will send one with a Mass offering for you!” Some people that have no belief system do tend to become confrontational about their “egnosticism”…“atheism” or what not. But on 2nd thought I wondered if in fact he was offended by my cards always with a religious theme, thus the need for some (name removed by moderator)ut. Kind of puts me in a spot, but maybe writing a note will help the situation.

Do you send family news with your cards? Something that lets him feel that you’re not pressuring , or criticizing him. He might be assuming each religious card you send is a criticism of his way of living. Casual family news, or taking an interest in his work – anything not directly connected with his religious attitude – might relax him and make him less defensive. If he sees you as a friend he might be more open to receiving a religious card, especially if he knows you’re not not being critical, just expressing your sentiments. Often I send a message to someone with a silent prayer that it will be received with the right attitude. Good luck with your efforts to help.

 

[Teelynn]

Do you send family news with your cards? Something that lets him feel that you’re not pressuring , or criticizing him. He might be assuming each religious card you send is a criticism of his way of living. Casual family news, or taking an interest in his work – anything not directly connected with his religious attitude – might relax him and make him less defensive. If he sees you as a friend he might be more open to receiving a religious card, especially if he knows you’re not not being critical, just expressing your sentiments. Often I send a message to someone with a silent prayer that it will be received with the right attitude. Good luck with your efforts to help.

Ah…very good point! Not always do I send a note as my life at times becomes a little harried. I will be sure, however, next time to “delve a little deeper” and give news about the goings on in our household and inquire of his. Thanks for you words of wisdom, Waiting. Sometimes it does indeed take people looking from the outside in to help.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I’m talking of a situation where I know for a fact that the person is not a Christian and/or has a very negative attitude and is offensive towards Christianity.
Otherwise I wish people a merry Christmas.

No I would still wish them a Merry Christmas. It does not make it meaningless at all to wish someone happiness at Christmas time whether they are Christain or not doesn’t matter.

 

[SunshineRose1]

Personally, I only wish people a Merry Christmas if I know that they are Christian, because I don’t want to offend anyone who isn’t a Christian, and I see it as presumptuous of me to wish someone a Merry Christmas if I don’t know that they are Christian. That’s why I tend to wish people “Happy Holidays,” which includes Christmas, Hanakuah, and New Year’s, so almost everyone can relate to it. If I know they are Christian, I wish them a Merry Christmas, and if I know they are Jewish, a happy Hanakuah. I think my politeness and respect of their beliefs in the case of non-Christians is enough to spread Christ’s good news, so there’s no need to risk offending someone over a greeting that is relatively minor, since the overall wish of a happiness is conveyed in any case. I refuse to get hung up over minor greeting issues, but I respect that others might, and so try to avoid causing offense as much as possible.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

My goodness, doesn’t all of this “correctness” get to any one other than me? I just get so tired of all of this whether it is about saying “Merry Christmas” or simply the “political correctness” of not offending anyone.

I don’t do it out of political correctness. I wonder if I should wish a merry Christmas to people who don’t believe in Christ and sometimes even hate him because I care about Jesus and don’t want to bellitle him by saying something that certain people would find completely meaningless or even stupid. I don’t give a d%#n about being PC to be very honest.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I never once this whole season run into anyone that was offended by “Merry Christmas” Once someone wished me “Happy Holidays” and I said thank you and wished them “Merry Christmas” and they wished me Merry Christmas back. I don’t think as many folks are offended by it as it’s hyped up to be at least not in my world.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I never once this whole season run into anyone that was offended by “Merry Christmas” Once someone wished me “Happy Holidays” and I said thank you and wished them “Merry Christmas” and they wished me Merry Christmas back. I don’t think as many folks are offended by it as it’s hyped up to be at least not in my world.

That’s I what I did in the end.

 

[JulieAA]

I don’t do it out of political correctness. I wonder if I should wish a merry Christmas to people who don’t believe in Christ and sometimes even hate him because I care about Jesus and don’t want to bellitle him by saying something that certain people would find completely meaningless or even stupid. I don’t give a d%#n about being PC to be very honest.

I am sorry, I did not mean to imply that I would wish everyone a “Merry Christmas” if in fact I knew personally that it would offend the person. The point I was trying to make is that all of the “political” correctness these days are way out of whack. There are more important things in life where we could address our time and energy towards.