"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2:10-12
By Shannon Pederson
About 20 years ago, a movie was released that became a children’s holiday classic. It’s a wonderful children’s story. “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” was released as a movie starring Jim Carrey. The move is based on Dr. Seuss’s 1957 book of the same name. It is the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film.
You might recall in the story how the Grinch enters all the homes by way of the chimneys disguised as Santa Claus. He takes all the presents and ornaments, the trees and stockings, and even their food down to the last morsel. He drags his loot up to his mountain and then looks down upon Whoville with a sinister grin.
He is listening for the cries and wailings of the people to start as they wake up on Christmas morning to discover a Christmas lost. What he hears instead surprises him. Up from the town of the Whos comes a joyful Christmas carol. They are singing. “Why?” he asks. It is because, he learns, Christmas resides not in things but in the heart which is thankful. He could not steal their gratitude.
"It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Dr. Seuss
The Christmas season is a great time to discover, once again, what really counts and what really lasts. It is not the presents under the tree, but rather the presence of God in our hearts.
May God fill you with the love and grace that we find in the manger at Bethlehem, namely his son, Jesus Christ.
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
1 John 5:11
About 20 years ago, a movie was released that became a children’s holiday classic. It’s a wonderful children’s story. “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” was released as a movie starring Jim Carrey. The move is based on Dr. Seuss’s 1957 book of the same name. It is the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film.
You might recall in the story how the Grinch enters all the homes by way of the chimneys disguised as Santa Claus. He takes all the presents and ornaments, the trees and stockings, and even their food down to the last morsel. He drags his loot up to his mountain and then looks down upon Whoville with a sinister grin.
He is listening for the cries and wailings of the people to start as they wake up on Christmas morning to discover a Christmas lost. What he hears instead surprises him. Up from the town of the Whos comes a joyful Christmas carol. They are singing. “Why?” he asks. It is because, he learns, Christmas resides not in things but in the heart which is thankful. He could not steal their gratitude.
"It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Dr. Seuss
The Christmas season is a great time to discover, once again, what really counts and what really lasts. It is not the presents under the tree, but rather the presence of God in our hearts.
May God fill you with the love and grace that we find in the manger at Bethlehem, namely his son, Jesus Christ.
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
1 John 5:11