Another Christmas is past, but the goodwill shared on Dec. 25 doesn’t have to end.
Think of some of the great fictional characters who turned their backs on Christmas and goodwill toward men (or Whos, in the case of the Grinch), but eventually had a change of heart.
“And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day.”
The original animated version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” ends with a changed Grinch carving the roast beast, as the narrator says,
“Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.”
Another Christmas villain who had a change of heart was Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge. After spending time with ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Present, Scrooge was shown a grim Christmas Future where a heartless man receives no pity. But he realizes he can change and vows, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
And he was as good as his word.
In our real lives, it may be impossible to keep Christmas in our hearts all of the time, but if Scrooge can do it, maybe we should try. Start today – only 364 more days till Christmas 2015.
A final note, remember not to drink and drive, especially on New Year’s Eve. Call the New Year’s Eve Taxi, 620-639-TAXI (639-8294).