Keeping a Christmas Attitude

You stand in line for what seems like an eternity. You approach the check out counter and drop your bargains in front of the haggard sales associate. At that very moment the computer system malfunctions and the clerk has to call for assistance from a manager already dealing with a problem on the other side of the store. Or one of the items you have chosen rings up with the incorrect price and the store associate does not the ability to override the price on their own authority. How do you react?
Shopping at Christmas can be an exhausting and frustrating experience. Fighting over parking spaces or over the limited selection of sales deals can inflame tempers. There comes a point when the least little grievance can trigger a wave of anger and an unkind outburst. Often it comes over something as small as a store employee saying the wrong greeting.
The true spirit of Christmas is not just found in whether people say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." Keep in mind that big box store associates are instructed what to say and must keep with the script or lose their job. Often they have worked long hours for a low salary and dealt with very difficult customers. The last thing that they need is another Grinch venting their frustrations.
Instead of griping about people not showing the real spirit of Christmas, start showing mercy. Christmas is the revelation of God's mercy to the world. Christians should exemplify that mercy even in the most difficult situations. Here are some actions we should be doing as we shop:
1) Smile. It is the easiest action that brings the biggest return. A smile improves your own attitude as well as those around you.
2) Give a pleasant greeting. Sales associates are people too. They need a kind word on a difficult day as much as you do.
3) Be proactive in wishing people a Merry Christmas. When you say Merry Christmas first it gives an associate permission to respond in kind.
4) Remember that you are blessed. Most of our Christmas problems are First World problems. Look for ways to help the less fortunate.
5) Remember, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Celebrate Christmas by showing mercy and loving your neighbor.

Christmas Already?

Perhaps you have noticed the Christmas decorations and products beginning to creep into the stores. Retailers are starting to bring out tree trimmings and are preparing for the Christmas shopping season. For many the typical reaction is an exasperated gasp of "already?" We haven't even seen the Charlie Brown Halloween Special yet, so why are we being bombarded with Christmas?
The truth is that Christmas falls within the fourth quarter of operations for most businesses. Businesses that have not fared well through the year know they have one shot to make up for the year when Christmas arrives. There are many companies that depend on a good Christmas buying season in order to survive. For that reason they will start as soon as they can to grab their share of the holiday market. And people will respond to those efforts. The average consumer may gripe about the early arrival of Christmas products, but they are more than happy to take advantage of the sales and special deals.
In a poor economy the Christmas shopping season is going to come even earlier. We can complain about the commercialization of Christmas. We can lament the loss of the reason for the season. But I would like to suggest a few things to think about before we complain to the sales clerk at the local department store.
First, none of the employees that you encounter in any local store had anything to do with the timing of the decor. Those decisions were made by highly paid executives in some distant boardroom. Complaining to a sales associate will only dampen their day. It might make you feel better, you will feel better at the expense of  someone else.
Second, we can view the early arrival of Christmas as a blessing. Early Christians often took the cultural events of their day and transformed them into opportunities to share the Gospel. Many of our Christmas traditions come from transformed pagan symbols. The Christmas tree started as pagan nature worship, but was transformed into a symbol of everlasting life. Our culture may have transformed Christmas into a commercial holiday, but we can return it to its rightful status. We can affect a change simply by the attitude we bring into the marketplace. Instead of lamenting the early arrival of Christmas, we can simply acknowledge that the Incarnation should be celebrated year round. The world may not know the real meaning of Christmas, but its early arrival is an opportunity for us to tell them the real reason to celebrate.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays

Christ warned that following him would create persecution and conflict for believers. It is amazing that even a simple greeting can generate controversy. It has become politically correct to say Happy Holidays so as not to offend those celebrating Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, or Kwanzaa instead of Christmas. I recently heard Ellen DeGeneres state that she preferred Happy Holidays because it included everyone and acknowledged the value of all traditions. However, not all holidays are equal and celebrating the birth of our Savior is the real reason for the season.

To the other extreme there are those who are offended by those retailers and restaurants that do not say Merry Christmas. There are blogs and websites that track which retailers use Merry Christmas and encourage people to avoid establishments that do not use the phrase.

I would like to suggest a different approach. Instead of getting offended by which phrase is used, demonstrate some grace to those in the service industries. Retail workers have to deal with grinches that are offended by things beyond the workers control. There are some people who delight in being offended and will bite the head off of a sales associate for any imagined offense. Waiters and waitresses deal with loud, obnoxious parties that leave a tip so stingy that Ebenezer Scrooge would wince. People in the service industry navigate a minefield of attitudes and opinions while making a very low wage. They often seek the path least stressful and are often operating under corporate directives crafted by lawyers and HR department heads.

So, when some sales associate or waitress says "Happy Holidays", instead of venting your righteous indignation on them simply respond with "Merry Christmas." I have found that often they will immediately respond with a cheerful "Merry Christmas." By saying "Merry Christmas" you are giving them permission to say it. Plus, you are helping spread good will instead of hunting for it.

"Merry Christmas" is more than a greeting or salutation, it is an attitude. Malls and TV specials do not create this attitude because it is not rooted in the external. The proper attitude of Christmas comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in those who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Take this season as an opportunity to show forth the joy of salvation in even the most stressful situations.

Merry Christmas!