Friday, December 25, 2020

Where are you Christmas?

Tonight, Dec. 24, 2020, I sat watching Jim Carrey's The Grinch. Now if you know anything about the Grinch you know that he's a Who, that at some point early in his life was treated badly and that is why he's the Grinch. He doesn't believe that he is worthy of love, and that makes the Grinch terribly sad and makes it to where he doesn't believe anyone else should enjoy Christmas either. 

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the story, the Grinch is a mean-spirited Christmas hater who lives at the top of Mount Crumpit with his dog Max. Every year, however, his home gets flooded with trash from Whoville’s Christmas celebrations. This further adds to his hatred for the holiday. The story goes that the Grinch first moves to Mount Crumpit as a kid. After decades of receiving the town’s abandoned gifts and trash, he returns to Whoville for the Cheermeister celebration. Add to the story a young who that is questioning Christmas, 

Oh, hmm
Where are you Christmas
Why can't I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play
My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too
Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go

Needless to say the Grinch sweeps down and manages to steal all the presents from the families of Whoville, and in the next scene the Grinch thinks he's won; he's stolen all the Whos' presents and decorations—even their Christmas food! But here's the kicker: the Whos down in Whoville are having Christmas, presents or not.

Dr. Suess writes "He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more!"  When the Grinch sees that, he has an epiphany. Maybe the holiday spirit really can conquer all.

So this year, I want to encourage you to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Not the gifts under the tree, but what Christmas truly means. 

 

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6


Christmas Prayer: O God, who makest us glad by the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 

 

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