Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, December 8, 2024
The Grinch is having a moment.
I first noticed this several weeks ago while walking through a large craft and fabric store. Glancing down a long aisle I was surprised to see it was filled top to bottom on both sides with an amazing variety of Grinch merch.
That was only the beginning. I’m no longer surprised to see the Grinch greet me when I enter a store; he’s everywhere.
I first saw him in 1957, in a book entitled How the Grinch Stole Christmas, written by Dr. Seuss. Since then he’s appeared in an animated TV film, a live-action feature film, a musical, and many other adaptations.
For anyone who’s managed to miss out on all of the above, here’s a brief summary of the plot:
The Grinch was a low-down, mean, cranky, sour, hateful joy-killer whose heart was two sizes too small. He was unreasonably annoyed by the happy Christmas celebrations of the residents of nearby Whoville. He decided to literally steal their Christmas.
Dressing up in a Santa suit, he slid down their chimneys, and “slithered and slunk” around their houses, snatching up every gift, tree, decoration, and even the refrigerated ingredients of their Christmas feasts.
Triumphantly absconding with all that he thought was their Christmas, he paused near the top of the mountain overlooking Whoville to hear its citizens wailing over the loss of their Christmas.
To his astonished ears comes, instead, the joyful sound of every Who joining voices together in song.
According to Dr. Seuss, the Grinch puzzled for three hours before coming to this epiphany:
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”
Suddenly his heart grows three sizes, and he hustles down the mountain to return all the gifts and trees and decorations and food. And joins the celebration.
It’s a heart-warming, heart-expanding happy ending which I thoroughly enjoy.
I also enjoy the irony I see in my photo above: pillows proclaiming “Maybe Christmas he thought doesn’t come from a store” when they are for sale in a large store overflowing with Christmas merchandise!
I haven’t missed the message, though, and I’m glad for the reminder. It settles me down to focus on the true essence of Christmas, to listen for its heartbeat.
And speaking of hearts, we know where to go to get one that’s just the right size; not from a store, but from the open hand of our good and generous God:
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV)
Many years ago when I was teaching school, my first-graders had a word for schoolwork that they discovered with delight was easy. They would loftily proclaim, “This is cinchy!”
In honor of those long-ago students, I offer these words of encouragement:
Don’t be Grinchy; it’s a cinchy:
For a new start, ask God for His heart!
As we move into this brand-new week, and through this Christmas season, may your days be merry and bright because “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV)