The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

In a house in Webster, NY, a man sat musing.  His deceased mother left money to the Fire Department. That was so unfair.  The cops treated him badly and that was unfair. The whole world was against him so he vowed to get even.

In Dr. Seuss' beloved book, The Grinch stood on a hill looking down on Who Ville. Those Whos were so noisy.  That annoyed him. They sounded so cheerful and that grated on his nerves.  Maybe he could fix it so that they were no longer cheerful.  His heart was two sizes too small.

 

The man started writing notes.  He hated the world.  He wanted to kill as many people as possible and set much of the world on fire.

The Grinch sneaked into town at night.  He dressed like Santa and stole all the Who gifts and decorations.  He would show them.  They would not be cheerful when they got up Christmas morning.

The man killed his sister and set his house on fire.  When the fire department showed up, he started shooting, hitting firemen and law officers. Two died, others were injured.

On Christmas morning, the Whos gathered in the town circle.  They joined hands and sang together.  They did not sound unhappy at all.

Since the firemen could not start fighting the fire because of the shooter, it spread.  It ended up destroying seven houses and damaging others.

The Grinch realized that Christmas was not about gifts and decorations.  “Perhaps it means a little bit more.”

The shooter went down to the lake and shot himself.

The Grinch’s heart grew.  He brought all the gifts back.  He even cut the roast beast at the Who Christmas Feast.

The Grinch’s heart grew and the shooter’s heart shrank.  In 2013, we can let our hearts grow larger or sit and muse vengeance against all who wronged us, in reality or the imagination.

We can make the world a better place.  We can be remembered as someone who ruined many other lives and left a trail of destruction.  Let’s resolve to let our hearts grow this year and leave a legacy of good.

Happy New Year to you and yours.             

The Birth

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Glory to God

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Shepherds Find the Baby

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Photos of Renaissance Paintings in the Public Domain

Wikimedia Commons

Bible Passages from Luke 2 4-20 KJV in the Public Domain

BibleGateway.com 

Our Hearts are Breaking

My heart is breaking, as are millions around our nation.  A tragedy of monumental proportions stole the joy from Christmas this year. A young man ruthlessly shot up an elementary school in Connecticut, killing 20 innocent children and seven of the heroic adults caring for them.

It is unfathomable.  We do not understand such a act from an ice cold heart.  The fact that it happened about 10 days before Christmas only compounds the agony of it.

This young man had some kind of vendetta against his parents.  It would be tragic enough if he only killed them.  It is beyond all comprehension why he took innocent children and adults with him into eternity.

We all need to cherish the ones we love, hold them a little closer, and speak words of love to them everyday.  We need to speak to others with kind and healing words. We are not promised tomorrow.

We never know what is in the hearts of people all around us. When we treat everyone with dignity and respect, we may unknowingly save lives that a wounded soul plans to steal. 

Jesus loved the little children and told his disciples to let the children come unto him. They did that on that horrible day that will 

be ingrained in our memories from now on. 

 ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23.4 KJV

Verse from BibleGateway.com

Photo  from Wikimedia Commons

What do Christmas Decorations Mean?

Everyone loves to decorate during the holidays. Candles, lights, baubles of every color, tree decorations and toppers all add to the festive feel and look at this time of year.  Did you ever wonder if the decorations had a deeper meaning than just pretty?

Colors

Green is the color of the Christmas tree, wrapping paper, and other stunning trimmings of hearth and tree.  It symbolizes eternal life that we have in Jesus.

Red is the color of so many bulbs, lights, wrappings and ribbons, easy to look at and soothing to the eye.  It is the opposite of eternal life green and reminds us of the blood He shed for the redemption of our sins.

White is for the purity of His perfect life and sacrifice.  He was without blemish, spot, or fault.

Baubles

Apples on the tree speak of original sin and are usually red.    

Stars whether as tree toppers, cookies, or ornaments suggest the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi, three wise kings from afar, to the place where he lay that they might worship him.

Angels atop the tree, iced as cookies, or glowing in a manger scene remind of the angels that attended the royal birth. Lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.  

Lights

Jesus is the light of the world and our lights, glowing candles and sparkling lights on house or tree,  bring that fact to our memory. 

Presents

We buy presents for our family and other loved ones because the wise men came with gifts and, of course, Jesus is the best gift we could ever get..

As you decorate in the coming days, or just admire the creativity and beauty of the ones others put up, take a minute or two to think about the true meaning of Christmas. God loved us so much that he gave his beloved son as His gift to us.  Merry Christmas, everyone. 

Photos by PublicDomainPictures.net