25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 14th

Happy Christmas Dear Reader

“ 'Always a delicate creature, whom a breath might have withered,' said the Ghost. 'But she had a large heart.'
'So she had,' cried Scrooge. 'You're right. I will not gainsay it, Spirit. God forbid!'
'She died a woman,' said the Ghost, 'and had, as I think, children.'
'One child,' Scrooge returned.
'True,' said the Ghost. 'Your nephew.'”

How often the division and solitude in life begins with family. A schism develops. An argument ensues. Bitterness gets root over a loss of some kind. In short we make a choice to shut off a part of ourselves to someone who is honestly family. We turn our hearts away in a small or large way from a person we are commanded to love.

That choice can lead to such solitude of spirit that we reject completely those we are supposed to love and honor. The first hardening of a heart is always a choice. Some hurt or loss causes us to refuse to be tender to someone else. Even if they are in the wrong; do they not then need tenderness? Is it not an act of Christian charity to forgive them in the measure that we need forgiveness from our own transgressions?

Failure to forgive and love always leads to a portion of us becoming stony towards those around us. I have done this with others and it is so difficult to melt the ice we place in our hearts so willingly. Once the smallest bitterness has root then it is painful to uproot it and face that our attitude and actions have neither been gracious or charitable.

We develop a natural tendency toward shunning or being intentionally mean with regards to someone. We demonstrate our ill temper by being perfunctory or simply withholding genuine kindness toward the offending party and translating it to others that matter to them. Fred had done nothing to Scrooge but Ebenezer chose to withhold any feelings of family over the death of Fred’s mother, his sister.

Is not Christmas about peace on earth? Is it not God showing his good will toward men? What better then to uproot our own bitterness and show good will toward our family? This is our chance to treat our family with loving-kindness and begin a habit of kindness we can translate into a lifestyle.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."