Merry Christmas, friend! ❤️

"Merry Christmas!" I’m sure you’ve heard it before, thousands of times I assume. But have you ever stopped to think about what this greeting means? I find it so interesting to listen to the fierce battle from some secularists who are fighting to replace this greeting with “happy holidays.”

So let’s break both statements down, and then you can decide which one reflects your beliefs and values most. The word merry is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “full of gaiety or high spirits: MIRTHFUL; marked by festivity or gaiety, a merry holiday time; QUICK, BRISK, a merry pace; giving pleasure: DELIGHTFUL.”

Christmas can be broken into two words: “Christ,” which means the Messiah or the Anointed One and “mass,” which can mean the celebration of the Eucharist, the dismissal at the end of the gathering, or unleavened bread. So, in other words, the classic greeting “Merry Christmas” could easily be paraphrased as “May you be joyful and happy during the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, the Anointed One.”

It kind of sounds like “‘He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,’” (Luke 1:14, NIV). 

Happy holidays basically means “Have fun on your day off.” 

friend, I’m not sure about our society, but I’m pretty sure you and I would gladly choose “Merry Christmas” and really mean it. We want everyone to be blessed, happy, and overwhelmed with joy because the Messiah of the world was sent to save us from our mistakes, sins, ourselves, and the clutches of the evil one. The Bible says it so well: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV) 

I’m praying that your Christmas is merry, prosperous, and meaningful. I pray you feel His presence as you celebrate the birth of Christ. I’m believing this Christmas will be more real for you, your family, and your friends. We’ve lost so much this year, and now we have the opportunity to turn to a Savior, the Messiah. The government won’t save us, money won’t save us, and power won’t save us. 

friend, may this Christmas be the biggest celebration of Christ, and may He save you from every evil trial and temptation.

Because you’re a miracle.