Christmas is my favorite holiday!
I love all the glitter, sparkles, and twinkling of lights. The drab becomes alive and well, magical. The ugliest tree can be transformed into something beautiful. Yes, Christmas has that magic.
I think one of the reasons I love this holiday so much is you can see old things new and you can dream like a kid again. One of my favorite traditions is to watch Christmas Cartoons from my youth.
Yes, Christmas is a very special time of the year. There is a reason for the season, but it may not be what you think!
Christmas has magic in it because it is wrapped up in love, God’s love!
The Father wanted to show us just how much He loved us and so, He gave us the best present ever; that present was forgiveness wrapped up in Jesus.
If you don’t receive forgiveness or you never forgive, your heart becomes hardened kind of like “The Grinch”!
In Dr. Seuss’s beloved book “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” we can learn a lot about forgiveness in a very Seussical way. God began to unwrap “The Grinch” as only He can do!
The biggest problem with The Grinch was he had a small heart. In fact, according to the book, it was two sizes too small. He didn’t understand love because his heart was damaged. He couldn’t give love or receive love because his heart couldn’t contain it. Why did his heart stop growing? It doesn’t say why, but I believe I may have some Heavenly insight.
In the book of Proverbs, it says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” Proverbs 4:23
What does it mean to guard your heart? It means to protect it, nurture it, and always look out for possible danger. An unguarded heart is a perfect place for bitterness to enter. Bitterness causes the heart to get hardened or, theoretically, shrink because it can’t receive love properly when it’s been hurt.
When you get hurt emotionally by a person you have a choice to forgive or to withhold forgiveness. The choice is always yours to make, but God will always be there to help you to make forgiveness easier.
Without forgiveness, your heart will start to harden. It will get harder the longer you let the bitterness sit inside you. This will start to eat at your joy, and your peace and eventually you will shut down emotionally. You slowly allowing “The Grinch” to take up space in your heart!
The Grinch hated Christmas because of the noise. The laughter, the love, and the singing made his heart hurt more. He couldn’t experience any of it and so he decided to hate it.
We all have had that moment where we have been so hurt badly that we do not want to participate in anything that can remind us of the pain. We push it deep inside with a big “DO NOT ENTER” sign. At that moment just know you have been “Grinch”!
In the book of Ephesians, it says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
God made a way for us to be forgiven by bringing His Son JESUS into the world. Because of Jesus, we have been forgiven for all our sins past, present, and future. All we need to do is just ask and then receive it.
True love holds no record of wrong. Love is described in the book of Corinthians as this, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The truth is, real love can soften even the hardest of hearts. When we become that love, that powerful agape love that God has for His children, we will see people change. It even changed The Grinch!
The Grinch thought he could stop Christmas from coming by taking The Who’s presents, decorations, and food. He believed that it was material things that made them celebrate the holiday. Much to his surprise, on Christmas Day all The Whos went outside and began singing joyful songs to celebrate that Christmas was here.
The music that rang through the sky was filled with love and joy. That sound was so powerful that the frequency did something to The Grinch. It changed his heart.
So, this Christmas give a present to all that you know. Take all the hurts and just let them go!
Forgiveness is a sound that you must be willing to make. Digging in deeper for the strength that it takes. Releasing the people and setting them free. This is the same gift that Jesus gave to you and me!
Merry Christmas!
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