Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!  I pray that this holiday season will be as special and memorable as years past, although I know this season may look different than Yuletide celebrations before.  I recently heard something that alarmed me:  Some political pundits, in light of the pandemic, are actually pondering, “Should we cancel Christmas?”  Astounded by this absurd idea, it reminded me of a popular children’s cartoon by Dr. Seuss, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”

“They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!”
“They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do!”
“Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo!”
“That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!”
So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And 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!”

This may be a light-hearted view of what we are experiencing, but it is true.  I encourage you to remember, no matter what, Christmas is coming.  The King is coming!

May you and yours experience the miracle of our Lord coming to Earth.

Christmas blessings,

Steve