I have given up on counting how many times people complain when they leave a store, a restaurant or any public place and the person wishing them a good day says "happy holidays."

"I don't understand why they just can't say 'Merry Christmas.'"

"Is it because it has 'Christ' in it?"

"Typical America, trying to take 'Christ' out of everything."

And I can't help but laugh when I hear these ridiculous claims. When I hear people taking offense to an overarching phrase that encompasses all people, not just people like them.

So do I have a tree and nativity scenes in my home? Yes. Do I go to the Christmas Eve service at my parents' church? Yes. Do I give and open gifts on December 25? Yes.

But do I realize and respect that not everyone does? Absolutely.

There's Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Ramadan. There's people who don't celebrate anything at all. Or celebrate a mixture of any of the ones mentioned above. There's all kinds of different people in this country that have the freedom to believe in whatever they want. The freedom to celebrate whichever holidays they so please, and that's something that we should take pride in, not something that we should complain about or try to reform people into what we believe.

That's what is so beautiful about the holidays. That no matter what you believe or what you celebrate, this time of year is one of love and joy. Kindness and sympathy. Family and tradition. Spirituality and reflection. Warmth and compassion.

We are reminded about the endless variety of life. Of cultures. Of religions. Of spirits.

We must remember that what we believe. Or celebrate. Or see. Is not what everyone else does. But that that doesn't make us weaker, it actually makes us stronger. It makes us appreciate things we would normally ignore. See things we would usually look over. Believe in things that our hearts would not yet be open to.

And truly love and understand each other.

Because after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Celebrating the birth of a man who came to love all people. Accept all people. Save all people. Give to all people.

And that's what makes the holidays so special. It makes people hopeful of what's to come.

And as every season comes and goes, I'm hopeful that the next year will bring more love. More acceptance. More diversity. More understanding.

I'm hopeful that people will no longer complain when the cashier tells them "happy holidays."