A Christmas Lesson from The Grinch

One of my favorite movies to watch during the Holiday season is The Grinch Who Stole Christmas that stars Jim Carrey. It's a funny movie with several wonderful messages. Some people may only see the message that you get near the end of the movie, and that is the message that Christmas isn't about the gifts or the presents. It's about being with the family and enjoying the time together. 

But the messages I loved are the more subtle ones. In the book, How The Grinch Stole Christmas you never get the back story to the Grinch and why he hates Christmas. But in this movie, you are told about how he was constantly bullied as a child. The Grinch represents every child who has ever been laughed at, and teased. He was made fun of for being green, for having facial hair at the age of eight, and overall - for being different. I'll never forget the scene in the movie where the kids make fun of him for trying to shave and the teacher starts to laugh as well. I don't agree with the Grinch becoming bitter towards the Who people because they teased him... but I completely understand why he would.

I've heard people use the phrase, "Oh don't be such a Grinch!" and it usually means, don't be so moody or have more fun. But after really thinking about it, why is being a Grinch wrong? Yes he was rude and he put up a wall to block his heart - afraid of getting hurt once more. But is it wrong to be different like he was? Aren't we all different? Isn't us being different what makes this world so interesting?

Cindy, the sweet little girl quotes The Book of Who (which is basically their book of laws), "No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be greeted with Holiday cheer." This simple quote speaks volumes for how we should treat each other, even those we deem "different."  No matter how different someone is, they should always be treated with the same acceptance and compassion we would give others who we don't think are so different. 

This Christmas, lets remember that everyone deserves to be treated with love and compassion. This Christmas, lets remember that Jesus himself was once thought of as weird and different... to the point of where people killed him on a cross, laughing at him... taunting him... bullying him. So why would we do that to anyone else? 

Hope and Love,
Becca