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

Music Monday

Hey everyone, 

I know that I have not posted in a few days and I wanted to apologize. We had our annual winter party for families who have children with CHD and/or other special needs. It went really well and it was so much fun to see my camp friends and the CHD community. Although we have not seen each other in a year, it is as if no time has passed and we all take off right where we left off. It's an amazing community where everyone is loved, accepted and understood. You can feel the love the moment you meet this amazing group of people. And that is what inspired me to choose the song that I have chosen for today. Seasons Of Love by the Rent Cast. As we move into the Holidays, I want us all to remember that this time of the year is not about the presents or the cookies we get to eat. It's about the love that this time of year represents. Instead of "measuring your life" by what you have or don't have, measure it with love; and how much love you give to others. Even those who are different than you. And remember - there is an S at the end of the Season. It's plural. Meaning, all year round we should be sharing the love. Not just this Holiday season.

"Seasons of Love"  - Rent Cast

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love

Seasons of love
Seasons of love

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand journeys to plan
[From: http://www.elyrics.net]
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died

It's time now, to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

Remember the love
(Oh, you got to, you got to remember the love)
Remember the love
(You know that life is a gift from up above)
Remember the love
(Share love, give love, spread love)
Measure in love
(Measure, measure your life in love)

Seasons of love
Seasons of love
(Measure your life, measure you life in love)

So instead of wishing you a Merry Christmas or a Wonderful Holiday Season. I want to wish you guys a wonderful year and hope you all have Seasons of Love. By giving and recieving love. 

Hope and Love,
Becca

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, the Holidays have been keeping my family and I really busy. For Christmas Eve I performed Sign Language at my church’s Christmas Eve Service.  My brother, his wife and their little girl flew in from New Jersey for Christmas. It was really great to see them! There little girl is less than a year old and so adorable!!

I also performed Sign Language at the Phoenix Zoo during Zoo Lights. After the show my family and I walked around the zoo to look at the lights. It was amazing!

I finished school and my break is about a month long, which is really nice. My classes went really well and on the last day of finals a few of my friends and I went to Denny’s afterwards. We were also able to get together again during the break and went out to lunch and then walked around the mall. I am looking forward to classes this semester. When I signed up for classes, a few of my friends and I signed up together so I thankfully have two classes with friends in , and then two that I don’t. Making new friends but keeping the old. Ha ha.

Well it’s almost time for dinner, so I have to get going!

Love,

Becca