Why the Grinch was wrong
Dec. 23rd, 2005 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreaminghopeAnd 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!"
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a typical secular Christmas story where in the end, someone (or everyone) learns the true meaning of Christmas: Christmas isn't about the gifts and the decorations and the food, but about being with loved ones and family. It is all about appreciating those we care about and spending time together.
Wait a minute! Shouldn't we be doing that all the time? Shouldn't we always make an effort to spend time with our families and show how much we care about our friends? What separates Christmas from what we should be doing everyday?
Gifts. Special food. Decorations. Seasonal parties.
It shouldn't be about the amount of money spent and who gives the most extragavent present. Homemade gifts, simple gifts, meals shared... these are valuable expressions of Christmas spirit. This doesn't have to be about commerce. It is the thought that counts. But at Christmas time, the thought that counts comes wrapped in festive paper or served on a snowman plate.
Sometimes we need an excuse to show each other we care, or a reminder to remember what's really important. And the important thing is the people and the home and the community.
But our reminder is still a celebration that comes with ribbons and tags; packages, boxes and bags. Oh, and rare roast beast.
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!"
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a typical secular Christmas story where in the end, someone (or everyone) learns the true meaning of Christmas: Christmas isn't about the gifts and the decorations and the food, but about being with loved ones and family. It is all about appreciating those we care about and spending time together.
Wait a minute! Shouldn't we be doing that all the time? Shouldn't we always make an effort to spend time with our families and show how much we care about our friends? What separates Christmas from what we should be doing everyday?
Gifts. Special food. Decorations. Seasonal parties.
It shouldn't be about the amount of money spent and who gives the most extragavent present. Homemade gifts, simple gifts, meals shared... these are valuable expressions of Christmas spirit. This doesn't have to be about commerce. It is the thought that counts. But at Christmas time, the thought that counts comes wrapped in festive paper or served on a snowman plate.
Sometimes we need an excuse to show each other we care, or a reminder to remember what's really important. And the important thing is the people and the home and the community.
But our reminder is still a celebration that comes with ribbons and tags; packages, boxes and bags. Oh, and rare roast beast.
