Dan
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12:40:22 am on December 5, 2009 | # |
We’ve read them before in Reader’s Digest, Chicken Soup for the [insert] Soul, etc. Those tear jerking stories that talk about the poor person who couldn’t afford Christmas presents, the broken family who came together to realize true happiness, etc. It almost seems cliché as you read those stories each year.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Isn’t Christmas supposed to be a happy time? Of course folks who are down on their luck have it rough, but do we really have to read about?
Someone recently remarked to me that there’s “no moral value or reason to read tear jerking stories about the less fortunate during Christmas”. I disagreed with them. We read these stories for various reasons:
- to remind ourselves of the unfortunate out there and how fortunate we really are
- to remind ourselves to pray and help those who may not have the means to give their gleaming eyed children the perfect Christmas
- to pray for those who are lost and in need of the salvation, help and love of Jesus
- to remind us that even when we are at the lowest we feel we can go, there’s a God who watches, loves, cares and can change circumstances as He sees fit
So as you pick up your Christmas story this year, let it take you on a different journey. Ask God for eyes that will allow you to see the beauty of that Christmas story and what He wants to show you. Don’t have it be “just another Christmas story”, make it a story that will touch your life and compel you to do more for Christ, more for those in need of Christ and more for those in need of help — those less fortunate than you.
kami][kaze 8:31 am on December 5, 2009 | #
I couldn’t agree more.
On a tangent, I think another good Christmas tradition would be if you read through Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, covering a chapter or two every few days or so… just a thought. Less jerky to the tear duct and it does deliver a resounding message.
Dan 10:52 am on December 5, 2009 | #
A Christmas Carol is a great book, I read it last year and will probably read again. I’m taking my daughter to see the new animation of it with Jim Carrey. Haven’t picked a day yet. Did you see it yet?
Mom 7:17 pm on December 5, 2009 | #
I agree with you 100%. It does make me count my blessings and when hard times come, I know that there will always come a relief from the Loving Hands of God. When you were young and you and the other kids will start complaining, after the Christmas stories we read, you were more appreciative and thankful for what you have, more tender- hearted, and I think you have carried that through now that you have your own family. Thanks for sharing the thought.
Nick 7:28 pm on December 5, 2009 | #
Thanks, you guys, for posting items that glorify the Lord in the midst of all the other “stuff” on FB. Facebook makes an excellent forum for witnessing to thousands upon thousands, TTL! ILY. Nick Megiddo
Nyx 4:45 am on December 15, 2009 | #
…Couldn’t agree with you more! It’s also traditionally a time to stop and think…about those things that don’t cross our minds the rest of the year, or that we couldn’t be bothered with…and if only to make us appreciate the love and blessings we have…
Merryheart 3:49 pm on December 15, 2009 | #
Hi, Merryheart here. I took my son to see it (3D) for his 12th birthday, and a whole lot of others joined us, we all very much enjoyed it. The youngest one we took along was 9 years old, he covered his eyes a good bit during the last part. I don’t know how old your daughter is, and I don’t know if in the meantime you have taken her, but I would not take anyone younger then 9 years old myself, as it could be a bit too scarey for them. Otherwise, it was worth every penny of it (said the kids who I took along and who had to dip into their pocket money) and I do agree with them.