Scrooge was better than his word. ... He
became as good a friend, as good a master, and as
good a man as the good old City knew, or any other
good old city, town, or borough in the good old world.
Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but
he let them laugh, and little heeded them, for he was
wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on
this globe, for good, at which some people did not
have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing
that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought
it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in
grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His
own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for
him.
... And it was
always said of him, that he knew how to
keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the
knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every
One!
~ Charles Dickens
Each year about this time, my husband Jim and I
watch the film, A Christmas Carol, with Alastair
Sim as Scrooge. We love it so much that a few years
ago we bought our own copy.
My favorite scene bar none (and there are some
GREAT scenes in this movie) is the one where
Scrooge has awakened from the nightmare of the
three spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future,
and is so happy to be alive and capable of doing good
in the world that he can barely contain himself. He
runs to the window and calls to a small boy walking
below. Scrooge asks the boy to go to the nearby
butcher, buy his biggest turkey, and take it to his clerk,
Bob Cratchit, and his family.
The young boy responds with, "Wha' - the one as big
as me?" and Scrooge, with a heart about to burst,
laughs out loud with joy and gratitude, for the boy, for
his new life, and for his good fortune to be able to
make a positive difference in another's life. He says
more to himself than to the world: "Ah, delightful boy!
Enchanting boy!" and sends the youth off on his
errand of goodwill.
It's all I can do to remember that scene without
weeping. Scrooge's transformation is miraculous and
instantaneous. "Wake up!" the movie says. Extend joy
and find it. Gain true wealth by giving it away. Light,
laughter, peace and goodwill are right in front of
us. Any moment may be a moment of
transformation. We don't even need to look very far.
The Spirit of Christmas is present throughout the year.
We need only look inside. Let your heart
laugh. And let it be said of all of us that we know
how to keep the spirit of this special season.
Wishing you childlike joy, love, laughter, and
light - and a "merry little Christmas" -- in this and
all seasons of your life.
With ki,
P.S. Listen to Judy sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
