No One Asked Me But… (December 22, 2021)

By DR. LARRY MOSES

No one asked me but… It’s Christmas time. Yes, I said Christmas time. I will be wishing my Jewish friends Happy Chanukah and my friends of African descent a Happy Kwanza but for me it is Christmas time.

I have, for over eighty years, celebrated Christmas and I will continue to do so. If you want to celebrate winter break, more power to you, but I celebrate Christmas.

I have a Christmas tree. For the thirtieth straight year, thanks to Albert and my nearly 50 neighbors of all ages, there is a neighborhood Christmas tree in my yard. It is not a holiday tree; it’s a Christmas tree. We once again had a neighborhood Christmas party at the Jensens’ home.

I can understand why there aren’t manger scenes allowed in Washington, D.C.; there hasn’t been a wise man there for years. But there is a manger scene at my house. If that offends anyone, too bad. If you don’t believe, that is your prerogative, but I do and I will celebrate the birth of Christ.

So, when I see you, I will wish you a Merry Christmas, not a happy holiday. Even if you don’t believe, you can have a Merry Christmas. I plan to have a happy Chanukah and I am not Jewish. If you wish to display a Menorah, well, God Bless you too. I am not sure what Kwanza is, but I plan to have a happy one of those too.

If you really don’t want to celebrate Christmas, go to work and let someone who does go home and celebrate with his or her family. Don’t exchange gifts. Don’t get together as a family and eat too much, make it like any other day.

If you find the greeting, Merry Christmas offensive, read no further, as I explain why I plan to have a Merry Christmas. While it has a little to do with the family getting together and the great food and companionship of the day, it has everything to do with events of the past.

Our family gathering will be a little different this year, predicated on the arrival time of my eldest grandson from Germany. We, as a family, will eventually gather at my eldest son’s house for a belated Christmas celebration. We will settle in the living room and read the traditional Christmas stories of Santa Mouse and T’was the Night Before Christmas. Scott will read the poem Jest ‘Fore Christmas and I will read the nonsensical Ambrose the Amber Tailed Antelope and maybe even, Santa’s Bad Day.
We will close the evening with a reading from The Holy Bible. This is the only story that matters and it explains why I will wish you a Merry Christmas.

Over two thousand years ago, according to the Bible, in The Book of Luke, the following took place.

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to the town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a girl never having been married and a virgin, engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendent of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

“(The angel) came to her and said, Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you. …Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace…with God. …you will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give to Him the throne of His forefather David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages, and of His reign there will be no end…”

“In those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman Empire should be registered.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his espoused wife, who was about to become a mother.

“And while they were there, the time came for her to deliver. And she gave birth to her Son, her first-born, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger…”

“And in the vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flocks by night.
“An angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them…

“The angel said to them, do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ, the Messiah, the Lord! And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
“Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God on the highest and on earth peace among men.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us…

“And (they) found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child. And all who heard were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.

“But Mary was keeping within herself all these things, weighing and pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things they had heard and seen.”

There are those who opposed the display of the Christmas tree or any other tapestry of Christmas. They feign offense to displays of any symbols of Christmas. However, if there was never again a Christmas tree, there will always be the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

You can strip away the trees, the lights, the garland, and the sappy songs about snow, reindeer, and snowmen. Santa Claus can disappear. But the simple story of the maiden chosen by God to introduce the world to his Son incarnate will always remain. For that, I will continue to wish all I see and know a Merry Christmas.

Thought of the week…There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”
— Eric Sevareid