Christmas joy that money can’t buy
Scene from The Bishop’s Wife:
Dudley (Cary Grant) and Julia (Loretta Young) get out of a taxicab.
Dudley is an angel, and in the previous scene he took Julia ice skating. Along the way, they invited their cab driver, Sylvester, to try it with them. Lots of fumbling and near-tumbling ensues, but in the end, Dudley has Julia and Sylvester skating like Olympians.
(It’s the movies, folks. Go with it.)
Afterward, the cab pulls up to Julia’s brownstone, and she and Dudley get out.
Dudley: “How much do I owe you, Sylvester?”
Sylvester: “Not a cent, my friend. My pockets are just bulging with the coins of self-satisfaction. And you wanna know why?”
Dudley: “I’d love to know.”
Sylvester: “Because you and the little lady have restored my faith in human nature. That’s why. Good night, Dudley. Good night, Julia.”
That, my friends, is pure gold.
Sylvester (James Gleason) didn’t need cab fare; he needed a few minutes to forget about his troubles.
And, while nowhere does the movie indicate Sylvester had given his life to Jesus, it hinted at something huge.
Our souls aren’t satisfied by things.
We might think they are – at least for a minute. But the only true satisfaction in life comes from knowing Jesus and the peace he brings.
“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!” That’s the best line – and the entire message – from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The mean ol’ Grinch tried to steal Christmas from Who-ville but got a huge surprise when the entire village sang joyfully on Christmas morning, even without the presents he had stolen from their houses the night before.
Stealing Christmas?
Impossible!
The gift of Christmas is the gift of JESUS. We wouldn’t – couldn’t – have Christmas without Christ.
We’ll never know how Mr. Grinch spent the months and years after he learned his lesson from the Whos. After all, it’s a fictional account, and Dr. Seuss didn’t publish a sequel. But while the tale wasn’t a Bible story, the principle is there.
When Jesus said it’s more blessed to give than receive (as quoted by the apostle Paul in Acts 20:35), he knew that truth more profoundly than anyone.
Jesus gave the ULTIMATE gift – himself.
He thought we were worth dying for. Not because we were so good, so righteous, so generous – but because the Father in heaven created us in his image and HE was generous.
Think about the sacrifice Jesus made for YOU. What did you do to deserve it?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
And why did he do it, anyway?
Because he loves us.
So, whether it’s a tiny village’s worth of presents and decorations, Clark Griswold’s subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club, or Sylvester’s first time on ice skates, nothing can compare to the Gift that God gave us: the babe born to die for us.
For you.
Let’s rejoice in that gift this Christmas season and, if you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, click here to learn how you can accept his free gift of eternal life.
It’s the most important decision you’ll ever make.
