Feeling Grinchy

Family movie nights are great this time of year. All cozied up, under fuzzy blankets and wearing festive jammies. Surrounded by Christmas decorations, sweet smells of the nearby Christmas tree, and enjoying special treats. Earlier this month, our family watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. We have seen it many times. We've seen all the versions. It is one of the many, many movies we enjoy watching this time of the year.

“The Grinch hated Christmas!
The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why.
No one quite knows the reason.”

Let’s be honest, we all have times where we resemble the mean one who is as cuddly as a cactus and charming as an eel. You may not be a nasty, wasty skunk... but you do probably get occasionally grinchy. You're not alone. Overwhelmed by all the things we convince ourselves we have "to do" before we can enjoy the season. Indeed, we all have moments of “grinch-ness” during this time of the year; and there could be all sorts of reasons for it. Maybe it’s because we will not get the Christmas bonus we were waiting for. Maybe we are told that we will not get the one gift we really want this year. Maybe our Christmas tree has prematurely keeled over and lost all its needles. Maybe the one gift our kids/grandkids really want has us racing all over the place. Maybe the fun, old-fashioned family celebrations have gone awry. Maybe we are left to celebrate alone at home this year. Maybe our friends won’t let us play any games with them. Maybe we feel like we’re melting under the heat and pressure of all we still have to do. Maybe we are just sad that we can’t go home for the holidays or be surrounded by family. Maybe our spouse or child is a scrooge. Maybe the bells of Christmas are too hard to hear over the distracting noise of worldly politics and hardship.

​Maybe… Maybe… Maybe…
 
Whatever the case… let us find time to rejoice in the reason for this season. Mary was the first recipient of the Christmas story and after she heard and experienced it all she spent time to let it sink in. The angels, the shepherds, the birth of the Savior… “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Take time this Advent season to treasure up and ponder the gift of Jesus. Open your Bible. Find a devotional booklet. Spend a few minutes in prayer. This will be worth the time and effort to fend off unwelcome grinch-ness during this Christmas season.

"Cheer up, dude. It's Christmas" (The Grinch)