This year, December 25th marks the date Christmas is celebrated and the day Hanukkah begins. It weighs heavy on my heart that wars are continuing to rage around the world and that many people of differing religious and political observations and philosophies continue to disagree and exhibit hate towards one another.
What if we take this holiday period and suspend all prejudices and sincerely wish one another a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah?
On the most fundamental level, people are not that different from one another. We love our children and our families, and we hope to create a better life for ourselves and a better world than the one we inherited. Christians and Jews also share the belief that God created the world from nothing, that His son, Jesus, was born of a Jewish mother; God is leading us to his heavenly kingdom and that all of us have an inherent dignity and worth.
But it’s up to us to reflect these intrinsic qualities back to one another.
This Holiday season I hope we can put prejudice and division in the same bucket as the lumps of coal traditionally reserved for naughty children. Let’s be respectful and nice to one another. Who knows, it might catch on!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
42 thoughts on “MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH”
Merry Christmas to you Brenda!
Love to you, Barbara!
Imagine! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, Brenda! XO
I know! Imagine! Oh, the things we can imagine! Now let’s make them come true. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda,
Wishing you a wonderful, peaceful holiday. Prayers for a blessed, healthy and happy New Year .
Thank you, Colleen. I’m saying the same prayers for you and yours. xoxox, Brenda
I couldn’t agree more! Merry Christmas Brenda.
xoxoxo! Merry Christmas, Jeannette!
Merry Christmas, Brenda! I hope you enjoy the warmth and joy of God’s love this Christmas, and that He blesses you abundantly this year in every way. Especially health! Hope you are doing well and enjoying God’s peace. Hallelujah! This new year is the year we all get to enjoy your new book! Celebrating and rejoicing with you and all of your followers. Love you!
I love and appreciate you Beckye! Here’s hoping we get to meet in person this year. I’ll be in “your town” for a book reading/signing! xoxox, Brenda
I would LOVE that!!
Looking forward to it!!
Love you!
Amen to that Brenda!
Merry Christmas and Happy 2025!!
I send you all good wishes for 2025, Gray! It’s way past time for you to stand in the sunshine and have a great year. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, I am reminded of the song Imagine by John Lennon. The state of the world is disheartening but as you mentioned, lets put our differences and prejudices aside and try to live in harmony. I believe that deep down, every being wants to live in peace but many don’t know how to achieve it. Let there be Peace and Light! Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday and a blessed New Year. Thank you to wonderful you and your blog! Very grateful to be able to read your relatable posts. Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah to all!And for those who don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah may this time be one of peace, serenity and reflection.
Yvonne, I think you’re right: Most of us want to live in harmony, but we don’t know how, or perhaps we’re afraid of what others will say if we’re not on “their side” of a particular fence. Here’s hoping we can put all of that aside, for good. xoxox, Brenda
If only… Yes. Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah to all.
And to you, dear Arlo! I’m always so happy to see you here. xoxox, Brenda
Wouldn’t that be great? Just for one day. As Yvonne said, Imagine. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Brenda and thank you for all your blogs. They’re never superficial but filled with valuable takeaways we all need to hear. And your book! We get to read your book this year! Congratulations! Xo, Barb
Thank you, Barb! I adore you and thank you for your support through the years. Wishing you a great year filled with love and health. xoxox, Brenda
Amen.
Amen. Love to you, B
Dear Brenda,
I so relate to your sentiments, it’s sad that politics and religion can sometimes
permanently divide us just because we see things so differently. Maybe someday we can keep an OPEN mind when we see things not the same way and try to understand why a friend, relative, husband, wife, partner sees things the way they do. Living in the world we do today, it takes a mature rock solid person to do that.
On a positive note, I’m so looking forward to reading your memoir. I know you have poured your heart and soul into your book.
You remain in my thoughts as I know December and Christmas day triggers past memories. I understand we too have had loss in December and it’s hard.
Wishing you peace, hope, good health, and happiness this Christmas, and throughout the New Year.
Warm Hugs,
Katherine
Such lovely sentiments, Katherine. Thank you for them and for reading my blog and being my cheerleader. I appreciate you more than you know and am wishing you a year of health and no losses. xoxox, Brenda
Blessings to you and sweet Annie! ❤️
Sending much love to you and your Annie!!! XOXOX, Brenda
We are a “mixed ” family of Jewish and -well no religion, but we love Christmas. We can no longer light our menorah in the window-as it is too dangerous. We live in a very nice neighborhood , close to a university, but a conservative county. Sad-but we certainly celebrate inside of our home! Dec 26th is our family party. Latkes and brisket for all. Cheers and happy holidays.
I’m sorry that is the case Sandy. Why does the hatred and wars in other countries bring the same to our home and country? I’ve read of so many stories of the raised prejudices and attacks close to home, especially against the Jewish population. My heart goes out to those who need to hide their religion, whatever that be.
Let’s try to keep love in our hearts and minds. Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to Everyone! Have a wonderful holiday!
Latkes and brisket!! I love that, Sandy, but am sad part of you feels you have to celebrate in the shadows. That’s not right. That’s not what America used to stand for. I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday week. xoxox, Brenda
Such a beautiful message Brenda ~ it’s time we took it to heart. Wishing you a very Merry and blessed Christmas.
Sending you much love and prayers, sweet friend. B
Beautiful message, Brenda. Merry Christmas
Thank you, Diana. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! xoxox, Brenda
Amen Brenda! Happiest of holidays to you!!
And to you as well, sweet friend. xoxox, Brenda
Merry, healthy, relaxing Christmas to you, Brenda! Hoping the new year is exciting and full of good events for you! Peace, the peace of our Lord be with you! ♥️
I love your sentiments, and am hoping the peace of our Lord is with you as well. Thank you! xoxox, Brenda
wishing you all the best for the holidays and new year! like many on your blog, we have never met – but feel that i know you. if you get to santa fe, would love to meet!
I wish you all the best this coming year, Bonnie! Hopefully, my book tour will take me to Santa Fe. I’ll let you know! I’d be overjoyed to meet you! xoxox, Brenda
I WOULD LOVE THAT IF WE ALL COULD BE KIND!
KINDNESS HAS GONE OUT OF FASHION I THINK!
MERRY MERRY………….I’m still trying to find some JOY this year!
YOUR MEMOIR IS ON THE BLOG COMING UP IN JANUARY……………!!
WISHING YOU A FESTIVE DAY and SENDING A BIG HUG YOUR WAY!
XOXO
Elizabeth, Thank you for mentioning Maya Blue on your blog. Publishing date is May 20th, but your readers can preorder on my author website. https://www.brenda-coffee.com
Sending hugs and love to you.
xoxox, Brenda
Merry Christmas Brenda!
Hello, beautiful lady! So happy to see you here! I hope your Christmas was wonderful. Wishing all of us a blessed New Year. xoxox, Brenda