Holy Days and Holidays

There seems to be a serious controversy brewing this season. Is there really a culture war over Christmas? It seems to me that many people are losing a sense of perspective. Throughout North America there is a secular holiday known as Christmas. For believing Christians there is a Holy Day celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In terms of history, the secular holiday clearly derived from the Christian Holy Day. The two are equally clearly not the same thing. So believers can keep Christmas in our hearts, giving thanks for the birth of the Christ, the Son of God as one of us. At the same time we can let the wider society have its holiday with all the good and bad it represents.
The holidays are a difficult time for many people: They bring back memories of happier times, or they cause us to reflect on joys that are no more. The Holy Days are a source of consolation and dependable joy, even in the midst of sorrow. The Christ was born not only in Bethlehem, but every day He is being born in the hearts of people who believe in Him. So I hope you have happy holidays, but even if you don't, I wish you a Blessed celebration of Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord.