I was looking over my students' Christmas break reading: A Christmas Carol (so fitting), and before you say how mean I am to give them homework over the break, they are out an extra week of school: three weeks for my home-school kiddos.
Since I know Scrooge's story pretty well, I didn't think I needed to read word for word, but I came across these lines that hit me in a new way this year. When asked how much he would like to give to the poor, Scrooge responds,
'Nothing' he replied.
'You wish to be anonymous?'
'I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. 'Since you ask me what I wish gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support [the prisons and union workhouses] I have mentioned: they cost enough, and those who are badly off go there.'
'Many can't go there; and many world rather die.'
'If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, 'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.'
What really hit me was what the gentleman said prior to this dialogue:
'a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.'
Isn't that the truth? This time of year we all get so focused on our wish lists, and we decorate our homes with lights, surround our trees with gifts, and fill our bellies with yummy food. Abundance really rejoices, but those who don't have are keenly aware of what they are missing.
Instead of clenching our fists tight for ourselves, or in my case, wishing I had something to fill our stockings let alone a place to hang them, we should be reaching out to everyone around us. Those living in plenty and in want all need to hear the love of Christ. He came into the world to love us, and he died to save us. Spread that Christmas cheer with a love that knows no bounds.
God bless you.... everyone!
~Scrooge Busted :)
Since I know Scrooge's story pretty well, I didn't think I needed to read word for word, but I came across these lines that hit me in a new way this year. When asked how much he would like to give to the poor, Scrooge responds,
'Nothing' he replied.
'You wish to be anonymous?'
'I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. 'Since you ask me what I wish gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support [the prisons and union workhouses] I have mentioned: they cost enough, and those who are badly off go there.'
'Many can't go there; and many world rather die.'
'If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, 'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.'
What really hit me was what the gentleman said prior to this dialogue:
'a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.'
Isn't that the truth? This time of year we all get so focused on our wish lists, and we decorate our homes with lights, surround our trees with gifts, and fill our bellies with yummy food. Abundance really rejoices, but those who don't have are keenly aware of what they are missing.
Instead of clenching our fists tight for ourselves, or in my case, wishing I had something to fill our stockings let alone a place to hang them, we should be reaching out to everyone around us. Those living in plenty and in want all need to hear the love of Christ. He came into the world to love us, and he died to save us. Spread that Christmas cheer with a love that knows no bounds.
God bless you.... everyone!
 |
| Silas, what do you think of Santa? Santa, what do you think of Silas? |
 |
| They loved each other! |
~Scrooge Busted :)
Comments
Post a Comment