For the last several years, the frenzy over "Happy Holidays" and its various ilk has been rising to a fever pitch. It amuses me somewhat as I'm on the sidelines and really couldn't care how people greet me or each other this time of year. But now I'm seeing more and more people getting fervently upset and demanding that they MUST be told "Merry Christmas" or they're going to take their business elsewhere, turn their nose up, grab a soapbox, etc.

I want to tell you about another viewpoint. I don't celebrate Christmas, so I don't wish anyone "Merry Christmas". Yes, I am a Christian. No, I don't celebrate. But I wish no ill on anyone who does - however, why should I be compelled to use a phrase that goes against my beliefs?

It's this time of year that I'm thankful I'm a stay-at-home mom, and not employed in public retail. Or that I'm not the owner of a company with a website and/or catalog. I see so many people deciding that if a company can't "recognize that this time of year is CHRISTMAS!!!" then they don't want to do business with them. If I owned a business, I would now be losing a percentage of sales because I won't violate my conscience. If I were a cashier at a store and dared to wish someone a "Happy Holiday!" then I would take the risk of getting blessed out about saying "Merry Christmas" by a percentage of my line customers. (And since I live in the South, that's a larger risk than some of you might take.)

Please, before you get in a huff about people trying to drop Christmas in favor of the generic "holiday season", think about the person who is speaking to you. Do you know them? Most likely not. If not, don't just jump to the conclusion that they are some Godless, all-inclusive nincompoop who is trying to not offend anyone. Perhaps, just perhaps, that person is trying to not offend their own conscience.

And I'm sorry, but my own conscience before God is more important than your persnickety sensibilities.