Christmas reflections
It’s been a crazy year. I’m not going to get into it all here — we’ve had our fill for 2022. But as it relates to the season, we are reminded that the insanity of our society today seems to know no bounds. Unfortunately, nothing is safe from being politicized and attacked… not even Christmas.
For example, during Hanukkah, it is customary to greet people with “Hanukkah Sameach.” At the end of Ramadan, we wish people “Eid Mubarak.” As Hindus celebrate Diwali, we wish people a “Happy Diwali.”
But for some reason, when it comes to Christmas, the cancel culture brigade tells us we are not allowed to say Christmas. We have to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” because we might offend someone.
Trying to erase Jesus Christ from Christmas is an example of the depth of spiritual erosion in this country and efforts to erase God, especially Christianity, from every corner and facet of public life.
This season is meant to be, and even marketed as, a joyful time of year, but it is unfortunately filled with increasing rates of depression, sadness, loneliness, emptiness, and tragically, suicide.
Too much of society misses the true meaning of Christmas by promoting superficial materialism, bombarding us with ads on social media, commercials on TV, billboards, all telling us happiness can be purchased for the low, low price of $99.99, trying to get us to believe that we will find happiness in things rather than focusing on and celebrating the reason for Christmas.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and remember his message of love for God and for one another.
With all of the noise around us, it’s easy to forget what Christmas is really about: giving — being of service to others; making a positive impact with your life — which brings greater happiness than being served. ‘Giving’ brings more fulfillment than ‘getting.’
I’m grateful to have realized early on in my life that I was happiest when I was being of service to God and to others. I was happiest when I was giving a gift, rather than getting a gift.
The truth is, happiness isn’t found in a gift-wrapped box, a fat bank account, or a fancy car.
This is the paradox: As long as we are searching for happiness and doing everything we selfishly can for ourselves to be happy, we will never experience true fulfillment and happiness. But once we put aside our own selfish interests, when we stop focusing on how we can find that happiness for ourselves, and instead focus on how we can be of service to others, work for the wellbeing and happiness of others, then we will experience true happiness.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everybody can be great — because anybody can serve.”
To my brothers and sisters in uniform, including friends of mine who are currently deployed, to our first responders manning the ambulance, standing by at the fire house, police officers keeping our streets safe — you embody what it means to put service above self. We are thinking of you and sending you our prayers and aloha this Christmas, and wishing you all a safe return home.
Life is short. None of us knows how much time we have. So on this Christmas and during these holidays, may we all make the most of the limited time we have, living a truly happy life by doing our best to be of service to God and to others.
This one is special to me — I just posted a Christmas Episode of The Tulsi Gabbard Show with two of my favorite people in the world, Mom and Dad! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
In the past I’ve said Happy Holidays, but I made a mental promise to say Merry Christmas this year, and I see a lot of others pushing back the same way. I still say happy Hanukkah or holidays to my friends and neighbors that I know are Jewish, and I appreciate the ones who say Merry Christmas back. But out and about, cards, niceties is all Merry Christmas this year. As a family we’ve refocused on our faith. We added a nativity scene to our outdoor decorations. We talk about gratitude for our countless blessings every night. It’s been fulfilling personally and well received.
Saying Merry Christmas despite the attempts to cancel is not so different from pushing back on the Covid madness. Just ignore the crazy people. My husband and I refused to get the vaccine (our kids aren’t getting even over our dead bodies). Yes, we were barred places, but we also contribute a lot to our community and when sponsorships and season theatre tickets didn’t get renewed we politely explained why - and that we would no longer support any organization othering people based on their personal health decisions. Enough of us did that so the whole vaccine mandate or vaccine pass to go eat or participate in society never took off in our area. We also traveled internationally (Caribbean), kept up an active social life, and remained kind but firm when people got all worked up.
When it came to masks it was clear they couldn’t physically work because viral coronavirus aerosols, as in dissolved in air, are smaller than the gaps in the fibers for all the masks being worn (from cloth to most N95s). There is also the reality they don’t mask Taliban women to keep them safe from anything. Masking has always been a means to dehumanize. So we went out and showed our smiles. If asked to leave, which rarely actually happened, we left. Our young’s kids were not masked for any length of time, not isolated, only missed April/ May in person 2020, never “socially distanced,” saw their grandparents all the time throughout the insanity (private conservative Christian school of 1,250 kids and top ranked).
So often society tries to use semantic gymnastics to overcomplicate and justify the unjustifiable. The vast majority of the time it’s easy and freeing to just ignore the baloney. Just don’t comply. Plainly consider the actual outcomes and act accordingly. I say Merry Christmas because I hope others find joy, love, faith, and gratitude as I have. Especially the past 3 years I rediscovered my faith and found refuge in it. I want to share that peace and happiness. Enjoy life. This lunacy of wokeness shall pass. Joy and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Tulsi, I just gave myself a present of becoming a member so I could tell you we are with you/ we are out here. Thank you for your words, Craig.