Christmas isn’t something that should upset or anger people. It isn’t something that should make a person feel uncomfortable. Yet that’s what it has become in many respects. I have no issues with diversity and inclusion, but that also means we shouldn’t be excluding others’ beliefs in hopes that we won’t offend anyone.

If someone doesn’t celebrate a specific holiday due to personal or religious beliefs, then that is their choice. However, I would never feel uncomfortable or uneasy about wishing anyone and everyone Merry Christmas, since that’s the event I celebrate this time of year.

When I wish you a Merry Christmas, it is my hope that you’ll take it in the spirit that it is offered. It’s my hope that you will join me in a celebration that is meaningful to me. I’m not trying to convert anyone or make them feel uncomfortable, and I’ve only met a few people with enough of a chip on their shoulder to respond negatively to my well-wishes.

But why respond that way? It’s my attempt to include you in an annual event that has shaped my life for the better.

I’ve learned to be a selfless giver to those in need.

I’ve learned to have more patience, especially with those close to me.

I’ve learned to hold onto those precious moments with family.

Yes, Christmas holds more significance for me as a Christian, but on the surface, those are the ways that others will benefit from me taking part in this celebration year after year. When I wish you or someone else a Merry Christmas, I hope for those same powerful changes in your own life. Who among us couldn’t stand to have a more generous spirit, a patient soul, and a loving heart?

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I look forward to another great year ahead, my friends.