"Bah, humbug!" Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge displayed his disdain for Christmas with these memorable words. Yet as we followed Scrooge's journey we learned from his past why he chose to close his eyes to the goodness around him and his heart to those who needed him.
Christmas has a way of dusting off memories that we have put away like the box of decorations in the attic. The season that relies so much on tradition can be painful for those who choose to dwell too much in the past rather than allowing past, present and future to co-exist.
Like magical gifts, memories of the past spring up quite frequently this time of year. Though sometimes painful, they can also help us to go back to a place of importance in our minds and make peace with it, cherish it or learn from it. Though my Grandmother is long gone, Christmas makes me remember pineapple sticks, lottery tickets and Grandma's laughter as she sat on Santa's lap. She created comforting memories for me to remove from an old tattered box, unwrap the tissue paper and display on the mantel of my heart. Heirloom memories to pass on to the next generation.
Christmas is a time of hope and renewal. God gave us a reset button 2000 years ago as a reminder of His forgiveness and His belief in the good that dwells in the hearts of all mankind. It's our job to open our hearts and spread the goodness that we are asked to give. God sends us here to do His work. To herald His message. As we travel to our ultimate goal of life everlasting, Christmas is a benchmark for the joy and goodness that we spread to others. It's also a reminder of what so many others have given us along our journey.
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