We all know and love the timeless Christmas classic,
“How
the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
It’s the
story of a disgruntled “Who” who was sick of Christmas and everything that went
with it- the noise, the presents, the feasts, the singing, and just the pure
joy of it all-so he decided to steal Christmas.
He wanted to take away everything that brought happiness to the Whos
down in Whoville.
Do you know that we have a “Grinch” that is trying to do the
same thing to our Christmas? He hates
the joy of it all and is stealing it away right before our eyes. Jesus warned of this in John 10:10, “the
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.”
I have spoken with several people this Christmas season that
have absolutely no joy. Actually, they
are frustrated and are dreading Christmas.
Their joy has been stolen by satan, the awful Grinch himself. He has convinced them that Christmas comes
from the store and if you have no money, you cannot possibly have a good
Christmas. He is a liar.
“He was a murderer from the beginning, not
holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his
native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
Just take a look around you if you want to see how
successful satan has been on his mission to destroy Christmas. I guarantee that if you talk to 5 people, 3
out of the 5 will speak negatively of Christmas. The saddest thing of all is
the fact that most of the negativity comes from Christians. We have lost sight
of the true meaning of the season.
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Because JESUS, our Savior, was born. He came down to this world, God in the
flesh, so that He could become the sacrifice for our sins. That sacrifice, if we choose to believe,
buys
us eternal life in Heaven with our Father.
The celebration of this amazing
gift is the reason for the Christmas season.
Every time you take your focus off of Jesus and start worrying about how
you will afford Christmas, satan does a happy dance. Even he knows what this season is really
about, that is why he tries so desperately to ruin it.
My husband and I have two grown children. I bet if you asked either of them to name a
gift that they received for Christmas in the past, they would have a hard time
remembering. What they CAN remember are the
traditions that we upheld as a family each year, the food, the games, the
Christmas movies, the love, the joy, the time spent with family, the songs of
the season and the story of Jesus’ birth. These things produce a feeling of joy
that will not be forgotten.
The
author Maya Angelou once said, “I've
learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That is so true.
This
Christmas, don’t let the Grinch steal your joy.
Focus on Jesus and the gifts that He brings: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. These produce memories that will last a lifetime.
“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 three hours, 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!"
Taken from How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess
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