Can’t you just hear those sleigh bells? Old Santa Claus is greasing up the runners on his big sled and the reindeer are raring to go.
How anyone could not enjoy Christmas is beyond me, but I guess there are some Scrooges in the world who just can’t catch the Christmas spirit. Perhaps they resent what many call the “commercialization” of Christmas. Perhaps they just don’t get a special thrill out of seeing happy people. Maybe they don’t even see happy people; perhaps they see those who are trying to outspend the Jones or are hassled because they “just have” to get a gift for someone, even someone they don’t like.
All these may be distasteful at times, but there is too much good this time of year to be a Scrooge.
You can start with the birth of a child.
In most cases, the birth of a baby is a joyous event. There must be a million stories of how a baby’s birth has been a blessing for a family. Even the most humble of homes can rejoice with a new baby. God never said we should be rich to have a family. He just ask that we love and treasure this human gift.
Many young people bring their first baby into a world that may not have every comfort and may, indeed, have some discomforts. But that baby can light up a family’s world and motivate a mother and father to work hard and bring up baby with love and respect and hope.
That babe who was born in Bethlehem so long ago didn’t come into this world in a lap of luxury. Not many babies have a more humble beginning in life. But look at the joy and hope He made possible.
Now, let’s move over to a more modern, commercial Christmas. I believe that giving is an absolute requirement for our time and space on this earth. Giving comes in many forms. It may be a bicycle for Sister Sue or a set of earrings for Mom. But giving is also taking a piece of fruit to someone or giving a homeless family a woolen blanket or taking an hour to go through the halls of a nursing home, passing out free smiles.
Let those who want to run around store to store do what they think is best. They have their reasons. It’s up to each of us to do what we think is appropriate. However, if our heart is not right, there’s no way our actions will be appropriate. So, why not make yourselves happy, all you Scrooges—put on a smile, listen to some Christmas carols, attend a Christmas program at a school or church and, at least once this season, force yourself to say, “Merry Christmas.”
I promise you, it won’t hurt a bit and it just might make you feel really good—like drinking hot chocolate on a cold night.
