It seems like over the last several years there has been so much focus on "political correctness". Not wanting to offend any one in any way, not wanting to subject other people to other points of view, etc. I'll be honest, I just don't understand it. As I Christian, when I see someone this time of year, I always say "Merry Christmas", because that's what I'm celebrating. I don't do it to be offensive to those who do not share the same faith as me, I don't do it to try and be rebellious against political correctness, I do it because it's what I do. If someone of the Jewish faith want to wish me a Happy Hanukkah, I'm not going to burst out into tears because they've offended me at the birth of my Savior. I'm going to smile and tell them thank you. Thank you that you took the time to try and send me a positive message of your faith. If a person that doesn't have a religious belief wants to wish me Happy Holidays, I'm fine with that. I just don't understand why we can't all learn to be tolerant of each other. We are all different people, all nearly seven billion of us. Contrary to what many believe, diversity is what this country was founded upon. Even those who are of faiths that I have strong disagreements with, I respect your diversity, and right to have whatever faith you choose.
I saw a picture of a white egg, and a brown egg. When I was growing up, Granny and Pops had chickens. I always wanted to have the brown eggs, just because they were not as common as the white ones and it made me think I was getting something special. But, once the shell was gone, it was the exact some on the inside. There was a yolk and the white. Just like in the white ones. We threw the shell away but kept what was inside the shell, from both kinds. We as humans are a lot like those eggs. The outsides of all of us are different. We're not all the same color, we don't all do things the same way, we're all different. But, on the inside, I believe we are all the same. We all bleed red. I realize that there are mean people in the world, and they're mean for different reasons. Maybe their past is dictating their future. Maybe they've been brainwashed by a "religion". But, for whatever reason they're mean, down deep, they're just like the rest of us. They hurt, they feel pain, they have a desire to be loved, and it's my job, not just as a Christian, but as a fellow human being to show them just that. Love.
In my faith, and notice I refuse to say religion, love is the ultimate gift. The reason I refuse to say religion is because religion is the root problem of many problems in our world today. Religion is something that someone tells you about and all the accepted and unaccepted things of their religion. Faith is a personal relationship with your creator, whom I believe to be the God of the Bible. Faith is something that no one has to tell you about because you experience it. For many years, I was a very judgmental person, and looking back I realize, and many times, regret it. I allowed "religion" to dictate to me my job as a judge of other people and how they lived their lives. But, when I truly found my "faith", I realized that I was spending to much time worrying about other people's religion, and not their faith. For those who are searching, God can be found in so many different ways. And, in whatever way you find Him, if that's your desire, I promise you, He will meet you there. It's His love for us that makes Him so easy to find. The Bible says that if you don't love, then God is not in you, for God is love. It took me a long time, unfortunately, to realize how much happier I would be if I would love instead of judge. Judging always put me at odds with some people, and I've found that loving, draws me closer to all people. I'm not going to force my faith upon you and berate your for your lack of faith. I'm praying that in the way I live in my faith, someone will have a desire to find that same type of faith.
So in this season of "love", lets all just take the time to smile at someone and wish them happiness, no matter who they are, what faith they're of, or where they're from. Don't be so mental and think that everyone has to do what you do, they way that you do it, and when you do it, just be thankful that someone is wishing you a good day. Don't be so thin skinned and get bent out of shape if their greeting isn't the same as yours, just know that the meaning is what counts. A meaning of love, joy, and peace on Earth.
