Lost in a Whoville Christmas
It’s a December like no other. COVID-19 and the events of 2020 have strained and stretched everyone in ways we couldn’t have imagined. As a huge fan of Dr. Seuss, I can’t help comparing this Christmas to the story of the Grinch and the Whos down in Whoville. Those unsuspecting Whos lay sleeping peacefully in their beds on Christmas Eve, blissfully unaware that a dastardly villain is on his way to steal Christmas. Upon awakening, they discover all the holiday trappings and trimmings are missing. Gone are the festive decorations, the carefully wrapped presents, and the delicious, plentiful food with its crown jewel—the roast beast!
And yet, despite their great loss, every Who down in Whoville gathers in the town square to join hands with family and friends and sing the praises of Christmas—as if this year is no difference than any other. They sing and they sing, rejoicing in being together and the miraculous blessings of the season. It’s a wondrous and heartwarming scene of joy and celebration.
Meanwhile, the evil Grinch, stands triumphantly on the summit of Mt. Crumpit and prepares to send his ill-gotten loot over the edge to its destruction. Suddenly, he stops in his tracks as the unmistakable sound of singing reaches his ears. The Grinch is dumbfounded. How could the Whos be celebrating when Christmas has been ruined? He puzzles and puzzles as he grabs his dog Max by the collar and snarls:
“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!”
The Grinch learns a valuable lesson that day, and so can all of us as we struggle through this oh so very different year. Christmas isn’t about the decorations, the presents, and the parties. It’s a miraculous season to reach out to others, to try to be a little kinder, and to love and serve one another. And even though many of us will not gather together during this COVID Christmas of 2020, we can still find joy in the blessing of family and friends. Most important of all, Christmas is the time to contemplate the birth and mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, who came to earth with the incomprehensible promise of eternal life. May you be filled with comfort and peace this year as you reflect on your blessings and remember Him.
Love this! Jesus is the reason for the season! â¤ï¸ðŸ˜Š
Yes! And this year gives us the perfect opportunity to slow down at Christmas and remember Him!
I am singing wa-hoo wa-hoo as I am reading this. I’m not sure if the little tear that slipped out of my eye is because of my lacking vocal quality or the feeling of my heart swelling even though it wasn’t quite as large as the Grinch’s.
The scene of the Whos singing around the Christmas tree gets me every time. And btw, your heart is much, much bigger than the Grinch’s. â¤ï¸
Great Job Wen, as always you make us feel warm and fuzzy all over!
Thank you! I’m working hard to act more like a Who than the Grinch! 😉