You live in the world that every day is a carol. You sing praises for things that happen. You might sing insults at those who hurt you. You could sing in silence at a loss within your family or circle of friends. The impact of the world is like a nail driven into your heart and soul which can force you to be nailed down, feeling as though you cannot move. Other times you do not allow the nails to affect you and they go right through, but the holes leave an empty feeling inside.
The story “A Christmas Carol” is not for one time. It is a carol that sings into your life and pours out into the streets wherever you may go. Often we allow our human nature to distract and interfere, obsessing over past mistakes or we forget, not learning. The greatest sorrow in living in this evil world,is brought about more by apathy and negligence than hate.
You can have a dysfunctional family where untold secrets fill your closet with skeletons. You can hunker down and think no one cares or will know about the troubles you have seen. You can allow life to turn you into the Grinch or Scrooge. You may think Scrooge was a bad person, the villain. Not so, sadly, he was blinded by the environment he worked in and forgot how to live.
Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, refused to speak badly of Scrooge and invites his uncle for Christmas every year. Fred perseveres through all of Scrooge’s insults and spitefulness and in the end, plays a large redemptive role for Scrooge. Fred saw the hope and glimmer in his uncle that resides in each of us.
How do we let the Christmas Carol become the carol of our life?
1. Do not let your past get you down. Sure there might have been abuse, insults that rained down like acid, not receiving what you wanted, but it has made you into a beautiful, God-made creature. Do not hold grudges, it is like keeping the acid inside a bottle, doing more damage to the bottle than the external object. If they are trying to reach out to you, then meet them halfway and see what they bring into the relationship.
2. Build your present into something that can be used in the future. Volunteering at the Salvation Army yesterday was a humbling experience. Pushing the carts with groceries out to families’ cars and unloading them. When we serve others we build the present future. Who is to know how someone was impacted by the volunteers that intertwined in their lives? Even though it was just for a moment?
3. Live for the future. Today might be tough for you. Yet today sharpens your mind, increasing your wisdom and knowledge, so that you can build a better tomorrow.
The carol of this life is to provide genuine praise in recognizing the contributions of others. This is an investment which is not costly can bring a surprising return. Even in a disagreement, there is an opportunity for service. You are able to restore happiness in the relationship if you speak the truth in love to help the other person to learn and grow. Finally, you must practice forgiveness. Fred accepted Scrooge into his home. Fred did not need to know Scrooge had changed, he saw Scrooge in his home and that was enough to recognize change. Accept that change as a small baby step, until you are able to walk again in harmony with each other.
You are responsible for the “Carol” in your life. Serve others first; your thoughts precede your actions making the world a better place. Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you just as your shadow, which is unshakeable.
I wish you a Merry Christmas. May your carol be sung and may others see your light as you begin a new journey. Even though you may be a scrooge or someone else is a scrooge, it is amazing how forgiveness and an act of kindness can change things. It is time to sing a new carol and not be scrooged!
Merry Christmas!
By Faith (Forging Attitude in Trusting Him)
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