Charles Dickens in America Day

Scrooge. Isn't that what you think of when you think of Charles Dickens? I do. And when you think of Scrooge, you think of grumpy, stingy, mean people. In fact, Brandi and I were playing a Christmas guessing game. In the game one of you draws a playing piece. On the piece is written a word or phrase that has to do with Christmas. I originally made the game to be played as charades, but Brandi wanted to give clues for the other person to guess. She drew out the piece that said "Scrooge". Her clue for me was this: she folded her arms, put her lip out in a pout and said "I'm just going to ruin Christmas for everyone." See? Grumpy people.

Stingy people

My favorite Scrooge

But I was thinking about this. It is easy to get caught up in the Scroogyness of Christmas when lists are full and bank balances are not. Or for me, it is if I have to go shopping. I hate the crowds and the press of people and the long lines. I get tired and grumpy and sometimes Scroogy and cranky and impatient.

We forget about Scrooge's partner, Jacob Marley. He died without ever figuring out that you don't have to be grumpy and cranky and impatient. He is doomed to walk forever in the chains of bondage. Chains forged by his own selfishness and greed. Chains that Scrooge learns to cut. Chains that no longer burden and weigh down Scrooge when he learns to give and think of others.

Today, on this Charles Dickens in America day, go pull out your favorite version of A Christmas Carol, curl up on the couch and watch it with your loved ones. Then talk together about how you can make a difference in someone's life this Christmas. Is there someone in your neighbor hood that needs help? Perhaps an older couple that has no family around, you could invite them for dinner, or help them hang their lights, or visit them. Or perhaps someone in your community has an angel tree up. Could you fill the wish on just one of them. Or donate to Toys for Tots.

My favorite? We like to choose a family. We plan and go shopping for them. Then we give the gifts secretly, one by one starting on the 13th of Dec. up until the last one is delivered on the 24th. It is not always big things that we do. Nor is it always needy families.

One year we gave presents to a family that the father was out of work. But one year we gave to a family that for some reason was mean to us- stealing our dog, egging our house, beating up my children, spreading rumors about us etc. That was one of our favorite years. We started praying everyday that we would be able to see this family the way the Lord saw them. We purchased a nativity set that had 13 pieces. We wrapped each piece of the nativity. By the time the 13th came, the kids were so excited they had almost forgotten all the mean things this family did. Trying to keep them from seeing us became a challenge. Some days we had to deliver the piece early in the morning.

I have no idea if the family ever learned that it was us or not. This I do know, we never had problems with that family again. The children were never close friends, but they were not enemies either. And when a horrible tragedy struck that family a few years later, we were able to be there and help them through it because our hearts had been softened toward them.

---

Indeed.