As Christmas fast approaches, three Christmas Eve stories come to mind.
In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote his classic, A Christmas Carol. Scrooge learns lessons from Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. These culminate in a changed life.
O. Henry wrote a short story in 1906 called, “The Gift of the Magi”. A young married couple, deeply in love, but poor, seek a gift to give to each other. Between them they have two treasures, her beautiful long hair and his watch, a family heirloom. Through their selfless love, each sacrifices their treasure to buy a gift for the other. She, selling her hair to buy a chain for his watch. He, selling his watch to buy beautiful combs for her hair.
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, written in 1957, recounts the escapades of the Grinch as he tries to stop Christmas from coming to the Whos down in Who-ville. As the Grinch waited to hear the “BOO-HOO” he was shocked.
“Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!”
“He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!”
“Mankind is my business.” Marley told Scrooge.
Christmas is about gifts given in love.
It is, as Grinch said, “Maybe Christmas…perhaps… means a little bit more!”
Christmas can’t be stopped.
I am thankful for the greatest gift given on the very first Christmas.
A gift of love for all mankind.
I will try to do as Scrooge pledged to, “…honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
Sue Agauas 