Singing During the Struggle || A Grinchy Christmas || Week 4 (FINALE)

If you’ve been following How the Grinch Stole Christmas in our Family Sunday School, we heard that the Grinch executed his plan. All the Christmas decorations are gone. All the Christmas gifts are gone. Christmas is ruined, or is it? As the Grinch perches at the top of his mountain, celebrating his supposed victory, he hears singing? The Whos are all gathered around the tree, celebrating Christmas and the reason for the season. But why? Let me read our focus verse, and we’ll get into it. 

Luke 2:10 says this: “The angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all people.” This news was the birth of Jesus. In verses 15 thru 17, the shepherds quickly react to this news and set off to find Mary and Joseph. They saw Jesus. After realizing what the angel said was true, they told EVERYONE. It reminds me of the phrase, “Everyone who has ears, listens…” because I’m sure they told everyone who had ears. 

A reminder that there was no particular Christmas tree as Jesus’ birth. No ornaments were hanging where Jesus was born. The Whos sang no carols’ that we know were sung at the time, other than the angelic choirs. There were no gifts aside from the Magi’s gifts for Jesus (poor Mary and Joseph). There was nothing present to celebrate Jesus’s birth at the time as we celebrate it today. This fact has been an excellent reminder for me this holiday season. 

Yes, it’s nice to have the prettiest decorations, the brightest lights, the decked-out trees, the great gifts around the tree, the sweetest treats, and more. That’s not what we are celebrating. We’re celebrating the birth of our Savior. We’re celebrating the gathering of loved ones. We’re celebrating the kindness that happens. That’s what it is to celebrate here. 

I feel like we take these simplistic Christmas activities and are so busy comparing them to how others do things that we forget why we did them in the first place. It’s hard to say that because I struggle with comparison a lot. We see families celebrating with loved ones, and you may be stuck at home by yourself. We see people singing carols out front, and you feel like you’re not good enough to join them. We see the beautiful displays, and you feel inadequate. This feeling of comparison is a struggle, but I want you to sing during that struggle. 

So what if your neighbor has a more prominent display? Celebrate why you decorate. So what if you can’t sing? We come to make a joyful noise. The Whos didn’t dwell on their struggle but acknowledged it. They acknowledged it and still came together to celebrate. May you find joy as we approach Christmas. The grief and struggles grow closer as Christmas gets close, but we sing of joy today. 

Here’s a fun challenge. Sing the first line of Joy to the World each day this week but replace the World with your name. Joy to me this week. The Lord has come. Let me receive my King. Let my heart prepare Him room, heaven, and nature sing. 

See if you can find joy for that short time, as you say to yourself. The joy may not stick around as you go through your day, but you have sung during the struggle for a short time. Amen.