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"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor 9:6-7)
A Christmas tradition of our household is watching the original TV version of "A Christmas Carol". We always get out the old eggnog and cookies, and settle in to watch that old penny-pinching skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge be carried through his life by the visiting angel. However, Ebenezer is changed at the end , after seeing his life pass before his eyes, and all's well that ends well.
Do you remember the story, and its old cliché, "bah humbug". It was the phrase from Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." Ebenezer Scrooge would say that phrase about things that he thought were nonsense or worthless. What about you. Is this the way you feel about Christmas ?
Regardless how you may feel, its upon us again. The season to be jolly. The time of ornaments red and green decorations, silver bells, holly, mistletoe and colored lights. A time to venture out in the rain or snow and pick out that "just right" Christmas tree. And a time to untangle that large ball of Christmas tree lights, that you hurried to pack away last year.
It is also a time for that universal mantra, "Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas" to ring out in our stores throughout the land. And along with this anthem, comes the same old traditional greeting, "Merry Christmas!", whether the participant is known or not, an enemy or friend.
Are you ready this year ? Have you done your customary "last minute shopping", at your local big box toy store ? What a hassle, you may say. Nothing new, however, you always say that, this time of the year. It's the American way.
So, let's get on with it, the Christmas joy that is. First, there's Johnny's bike to assemble. Where's those instructions ? Never mind, the back tire was left out of the box. I'll just call the store. I know they will understand and be ready to help. Oops, the store is closed.
Next comes Sally's new doll. I know it will be okay. Don't tell me. A one eyed doll. Just what will I do now ? I can't exchange the doll as it came from the same closed store. Christmas, Bah Humbug !
I can just hear the wife now, "You weren't much of a boy scout, were you ? Why in heaven's name did you not check those toys beforehand " ? For the like of me, why she always brings "Heaven" into the mix when she's upset, I'll never know. Anyway, too late now to argue. I must go out, hopefully and find a store keeping late hours.
Does this scenario seem familiar ? If so, do you still have that Christmas spirit ? But wait a minute, just what is the "Christmas Spirit" ? I suppose it depends on the individual. To old Scrooge the Christmas spirit was three ghosts. To the spirits industry the Christmas spirit always comes in a bottle. Others feel the Christmas spirit is a time of make-up with family. While still others feel the Christmas spirit should be expressed in a card, that has no intransitive meaning to the sender, other than the cost displayed on the back of the card. So, do you have that Christmas spirit satisfaction ? That feeling of gratification deep within your soul ?
Growing up, Dad often defined the Christmas spirit contentment as that age old feeling of being satisfied when you settled for a substitute, after not getting what you wanted from Santa. You see, times were tough. I just knew, given my "Santa's nice list", I would surely get that Roger Rogers two gun set with the silver spurs. Boy, what a cope-out. Bah Humbug ! And I still remember hanging one of Mom's old silk stockings on the mantle, so as to get more. And don't forget that "grown up" attitude of happiness, found in the stomach enhancement of turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. For us kids, that too was a cope-out.
If you are still confused about the Christmas spirit, just look around you. The spirit of Christmas must be in giving, if the shopping malls and the mail is any indicator. Giving is fine, as I'm no Scrooge. But the giving still seems to leave a certain void, within that counterfeit Christmas spirit of mine. Don't get me wrong, I always put my pocket change in that traditional "red kettle".
So, let us just get to the truth of the matter. What is the true spirit of Christmas ? Is it parties, Is it the fellowship of family and friends ? Is it giving ? Well, maybe a little of all. However, without that true spirit of love, love for our family and love for our fellow man, all the false concepts of given are of no avail. Simply put, what we need is that true "Old Fashion" Christmas. A time when Christmas had its true meaning. Not just a holiday wave in passing.
Yes, we all can turn Christmas "bah humbug" into a time of true "Ho Ho Ho", rather than a time of "Hum Hum Hum". So, go for it, it's not too late to show your love.
AUTHOR'S POSTSCRIPT (Taken from purposecity.com)
"In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote the famous book, “A Christmas Carol,” in which he unraveled his story using a rather uninspiring ill-natured man named Ebenezer Scrooge. While many of us have fallen in love with this character, popularizing his phrase “bah humbug” to describe less than spirited Christmas participants, the reality is that Ebenezer would not likely be someone you’d be sympathetic towards if met in real life. He was an unlovable outcast destined to rot away in the four walls of his rather imprisoned home – living a life of greed and gluttony. But, you see, I am Ebenezer, you are Ebenezer, and, yes, even the most bright-eyed kid on Christmas morning is Ebenezer. Let me explain. Please read (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Paul teaches us that “bah humbug” came long before “hallelujah.” We were all dead in our past, destined for a life of hopelessness (like that of Ebenezer Scrooge) until Jesus came to change our future forever. His grace, undeserved by all of us, allowed our Ebenezer-like race to find mercy. In Dicken’s story though, Ebenezer Scrooge needed a visit from four people to begin to see change take place: his old business partner Jacob Marley (ironically, bound in heavy chains), the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas future. However, according to Paul’s account in Ephesians, luckily we do not need these visitations in order to discover the truth.
Our past without Jesus as Lord and Savior can easily equate to Scrooge living miserably for his flesh, trying to satisfy all that is temporary. Likewise, our present and future, as depicted by the ghosts in Dickens story, are equally doomed if we shun the love offered to us by God, refusing to spread it to those around us. We must love God and others in order to begin to change the heart of what matters. (1 John 2:15-17)
We cannot do this properly until we recognize the depth in which we were so gravely lost and what exactly we were destined for. The reason Ebenezer Scrooge had a testimony was because he was given a second chance – a chance to change before it was too late. He saw where he had been, where he was, and what he was headed towards (and this left him in utter terror). As his journey and dream ended, he saw the truth: his life meant nothing because of the way in which he had chosen to live it. We are no different and, indeed, we are all Ebenezer Scrooge until we encounter Jesus.
The Christmas story told in Luke, (Luke 2:1-20) not the clever carol by Dickens, allows us to receive a second chance. Our life can start again; we have the amazing opportunity to change our past by the act of Jesus on the cross. (John 3:16-17) We can choose to make our present moments count and we can be like Paul, pressing towards the goal of our future. (Philippians 3:14) We are no longer Ebenezer Scrooge, but have the opportunity to live a life redeemed solely by the love of Christ Jesus."
http://ccrobey.wixsite.com/themessage
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