Through The Eyes Of A Child

9 Jan

“Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.”
~ Dr. Seuss

I think, in order truly to understand Christmas, we need to have children around. Children, after all, look at everything through very innocent eyes and react to joys so spontaneously. As we age, we often lose the ability to engage our world in an innocent way and begin to take a more critical, if not cynical, look at our world.

When I go to department stores or drive through our communities before Christmas, I still take in all the sights and sounds of the season. The lights, the trees decked with ornaments, and the Christmas carols all make me feel young again. In stores, I get a kick out of how big the eyes of children can open when they see trees and presents or, even better, Santa Claus himself.

If you are having a hard time keeping the Christmas Spirit alive in your heart throughout this Christmas season, consider thinking about Christmas through the eyes of a child.

There are a few shows that I watch every year at Christmas and throughout the Christmas season. The Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are three of my favorites. They remind me of the selflessness that Christmas calls from each of us and of the innocent joy in which each of us should approach Christmas.

I have to admit to shedding a tear or two at each of the show’s viewings, no matter how many times that I watch them. To see Ebenezer Scrooge change into a good man, promising to live in the Spirit of Christmas the rest of his life is inspiring. Listening to Linus’ speech about Christmas is also inspiring. And watching the Grinch’s transformation and hearing the ending narration of the cartoon always moves me.

In the original cartoon movie that is shown each year at Christmas, as the Grinch is serving the roast beast, the narrator reminds the viewers, “Christmas day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand heart to heart and hand to hand.” As our Christmas season begins to draw to a close, let us continue to stand heart to heart and hand to hand.

FAITH ACTION: In your prayer today, thank God for the wondrous gift of His Child and ask Him to help you see that gift through the innocent eyes of a child.