Welcome back to “Worship with Me,” my music series, which introduces you to some of my favorite worship music. I like to share information from the artist about the meaning of the song and some of my favorite lyrics.
Since we’re in the Christmas season, this and the next four Sundays will be about some of my favorite Christmas music. I hope you’re enjoying it and are ready for the season. I recognize and acknowledge that the holiday season isn’t always easy for everyone due to grief, lost relationships, and the general chaos of life. I hope these songs will bring at least a few minutes of your day.
Today’s song is “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by David Archuleta. Understanding the difference between the two and attempting to remove the stigma, anger, and volatility with this phrase is essential. “Merry Christmas” is a traditional greeting focused on wishing someone a joyful Christmas holiday. “Happy Holidays” is a more inclusive greeting encompassing all winter holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa – signifying a broader well-wish for the festive season. A lot of Christians can get up in arms because they feel that the usage of this phrase removes the story/message/meaning of Christmas from human history. The goal is to be inclusive and wish everyone a festive, happy, and healthy holiday season.
The chorus of this song is always so catchy to me:
It’s a wonderful feeling
Feel the love in the room from the floor to the ceiling
It’s that time of year
Christmas time is here.
And with the blessings from above
God sends you his love
And everything’s okay.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays.
This season should always be about his love. Christians’ main role is to love each other as Jesus loved us. This season, for Christians, represents the birth of the source of eternal love and the community it brought together. It’s not about what we say to represent it, but it’s about the why. We say Merry Christmas to honor the Christian perspective of the birth of Christ. We say Happy Holidays to those who might not follow Christianity but are celebrating the love, compassion, and community that this season represents. As we celebrate the season, let us tell the season’s stories. The Christmas story. The Hanukkah story. The Kwanzaa story. Let us not only acknowledge Christmas as the sole, mainstream holiday that happens during this time of year. Let’s share in the excitement for those around us and lift up their stories. We create a community of brothers and sisters when we do this.
This is my final post of 2024. I hope you’ve enjoyed this Christmas worship series and the other parts that came out this year. I’ll talk about what’s up next on January 1st. Then, our new content begins on January 6th. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
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