Merry ChristmaHannuKwaanzakahmas!!!

OK, ok, so maybe a day late--BIG DEAL. Yeesh.  Merry Christmas (belated) to everybody out there.  As for the title, I am Christian.  Not any other religion, and I have noooo problem saying Merry Christmas.  I just saw this on a Christmas card this year and found it hilarious.  Granted, people are more than welcome to worship and celebrate however they please.  Won't offend me in the slightest.  I just personally am a Christian and celebrate CHRISTmas.  I have Jewish friends, Muslim friends and even a few Hindu friends.  Do I tell them what to do? NO. Do they give me the same respect? YES.  I also don't go out of my way to 'convert' people who think differently than I do.  I thoroughly enjoy a respectful, intelligent discussion on the subject when it is approached.  However, I DO NOT believe it is my solemn duty to conform people to my personal beliefs. PERIOD.  If they wanna know, I'll tell 'em.  IF the discussion is RESPECTFUL on both sides. My opinion is that I am best showing the love of Christ by displaying a loving, caring, respecful character to EVERYONE I meet.  Not by saying I'm better than or smarter than those who believe different.  That wouldn't be very Christ-like at all. 
I have to carry on that same way in my own home.  I was raised in one Christian denominatino, and my dear husband was raised in another.  He still holds to many of the beliefs he was taught as a child.  We agreed looooong ago that we would tell our children how mommy believes AND how daddy believes--and allow them to research and decide for themselves when they became old enough to.  In the meantime, we don't tell them 'well THIS is how it is and you HAVE to believe THIS WAY'. No.  We teach our kids that there are several different takes on the religion subject, and lots of different opinions.  We also teach them that they don't necessarily have to AGREE with the opinions of others, but they have to RESPECT them.  When they come of age to make informed, intelligent decisions on their own, I will wholeheartedly respect their choice.  In the meantime, I will just grit my teeth and bear it when I hear folks making fun of others because they differ in that area.  I can't STAND when people do that . . .