Christmas—Bah Humbug???

 Greetings from the SoupMan!

Christmas is almost upon us and I say Bah Humbug! Not Bah Humbug to Christmas itself but to what we have done with the name of the holiday. Over the years it seems that the ‘powers that be’ have deemed that the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ is politically incorrect and now it’s become Happy Holidays. Oh yes indeed, we are so fearful of offending someone by saying Merry Christmas that we’ve retreated to Happy Holidays.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the multiple ways people of all faiths, creeds and religions refer to Christmas. They range from Happy Hanukkah, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad and many more.  I’m totally cool with all of these other ways to refer to Christmas. And I will not be the least bit offended if anyone calls out those greetings to me this Christmas. What really concerns me is that for many people who actually prefer to say  Merry Christmas and think of it as a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago, we cave to being politically correct and default to Happy Holidays.  That’s a big Bah Humbug for me.

Unfortunately I’m not one of the ‘powers that be’ but from just one little guy on the sidelines let me shout out to the world. Use whatever Christmas phrase that works best for you. I understand that no offense is given on your part and no offense is taken on my part. And to all those in the ‘Merry Christmas’ camp, I say muster up your courage and stick to your guns. If it’s Merry Christmas for you then by gosh it’s Merry Christmas. And if someone is offended by that then perhaps that is their hang up to deal with.  

So here’s the bottom line for the SoupMan. This Christmas you will be hearing me wish you a Merry Christmas and I will be doing it in remembrance of the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago. And I will be totally open to any Christmas greetings you send my way. You say what works best for you and I’ll say what works best for me. And to those ‘powers that be’ we will all say Bah Humbug! 

p.s. By the way, what are you doing for Christmas this year? Anything meaningful? Anything life changing? Anything to make a difference for Christ? You might want to consider volunteering at the SoupMobile’s 8th Annual Celebrate Christmas event. We are taking 500 homeless men, women and children and putting them up at the spectacular downtown Dallas Omni Hotel for Christmas. And I’m thinking nobody would say Bah Humbug to that! More details on volunteering with the SoupMobile this Christmas can be found at www.soupmobile.org.

 

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours.

 

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan