Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
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!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."
I won't try and riddle this post with symbolism, hidden meanings, or why Dr. Seuss made the Grinch green. I haven't extracted anything innovative from the classic tale, and I'm shy about using a cliche. Most of you are familiar with this Dr. Seuss classic, but despite the obvious message in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" we still say noble things to silence our complaining kids like,
"You know some kids don't even get a Christmas at all. Why, you should just be thankful for what you get!"
This over-used adage simply is not true. Every single person that has ever lived since B.C. transferred to A.D. has gotten a Christmas. For too many it has come "...ribbons and tags, and packages, boxes, and bags..." It has come without the traditions that seem to be the personification of Christmas when really they aren't at all.
I wish every child could receive a gift on Christmas. I think it's a beautiful concept this gift-giving. The fact still stays that the gifts and feasting and carols and decorations aren't what make Christmas Christmas. Christmas, I'd say "means a little bit more."
This is why the Grinch couldn't snatch Christmas away. This is why no one can. Nor poverty, nor bondage, nor tragedy. We all get a Christmas and we all get an equal portion.
Our Christmas, this holiday we celebrate each year, is the birth of Christ. Our Christmas isn't expensive electronics wrapped up in pristine packaging and gaudy glamour. It's not even mistletoe or sappy love stories or some chilling, thrilliant feeling. In fact our Christmas is this:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
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.
(Luke 2:8-14)
"And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown"
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
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!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."
I won't try and riddle this post with symbolism, hidden meanings, or why Dr. Seuss made the Grinch green. I haven't extracted anything innovative from the classic tale, and I'm shy about using a cliche. Most of you are familiar with this Dr. Seuss classic, but despite the obvious message in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" we still say noble things to silence our complaining kids like,
"You know some kids don't even get a Christmas at all. Why, you should just be thankful for what you get!"
This over-used adage simply is not true. Every single person that has ever lived since B.C. transferred to A.D. has gotten a Christmas. For too many it has come "...ribbons and tags, and packages, boxes, and bags..." It has come without the traditions that seem to be the personification of Christmas when really they aren't at all.
I wish every child could receive a gift on Christmas. I think it's a beautiful concept this gift-giving. The fact still stays that the gifts and feasting and carols and decorations aren't what make Christmas Christmas. Christmas, I'd say "means a little bit more."
This is why the Grinch couldn't snatch Christmas away. This is why no one can. Nor poverty, nor bondage, nor tragedy. We all get a Christmas and we all get an equal portion.
Our Christmas, this holiday we celebrate each year, is the birth of Christ. Our Christmas isn't expensive electronics wrapped up in pristine packaging and gaudy glamour. It's not even mistletoe or sappy love stories or some chilling, thrilliant feeling. In fact our Christmas is this:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
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.
(Luke 2:8-14)
"And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown"
Mitchell, this is so good. You continue to suprise me when I read your thoughts. Makes me smile to know someone like you. --You get things that some people do not think about... Love this one.
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