“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ~Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is almost more familiar to people than the Nativity story found in the Gospel of Luke. This is a sad statement for me to make but, I fear that it is increasingly more true year after year. I have heard over the years many people say “I hate Christmas…well you know what I mean.” Followed quickly by; “I wish THEY would stop trying to take Christ out of Christmas.” Who are they and why are you concerned about how they are celebrating Christmas…the only person who can take Christ out of YOUR Christmas…is you!
If you were asked to define Christmas for someone who had never celebrated it, what would you tell them about this holiday?
Would you tell them first it is the most stressful time of year; shopping, baking, wrapping, planning, traveling? Would you tell them that if you receive one more party invitation you’re going to go through the roof? In the first five words of your answer would you mention the Christ Child, the one you don’t want others to take out of YOUR holiday? When would you tell them about the birth of Christ, the Messiah, the one born to set us free? Would you start off with the Gospel and eventually get to Dr. Seuss or start off with Seuss and possibly throw the Gospel in at the end?
Would the person you’re sharing the holiday with hear from you the story of Hope that Christ brings to the world or the frustration of standing in long shopping lines? Would they get a sense of the Peace Christ brings to those who believe or a sense of anxiety over not finding the newest holiday gadget? Would they see the Joy and Love in your life from celebrating this Holy Day or the grief and sadness over being double booked every Friday night until 2011?
When you finished sharing what Christmas is would the person listening see you more like the Grinch (at the beginning of the story) or more like the shepherds(ready to share what the angels proclaimed)?
It is my prayer, this Advent and Christmas season that we realize Christmas in fact does not come from a store but comes each time we share the story of the long awaited Christ!
As we joyously celebrate Christ’s coming to earth I hope you are able to slow down long enough from the hustle and bustle of the “holidays” to focus on the Holy Days that are upon us remembering God’s desire for humankind made real in Jesus the Christ. If you hear someone shouting “Keep Christ in Christmas!” Share with them the story again, remind them what the angels told the shepherds and “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11
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