A Christmas Carol

One goal that I made this year is I wanted to read Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." I have seen many different versions. There's Muppets Christmas Carol, Mickey's Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol starting George C. Scott, Scrooge a musical version of it ("Thank you very much, Thank you very much, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me...") and many other versions on The Simpons, Sesame Street and other T.V. shows. I've also seen stage versions. Rodgers Memorial puts on a great production that I was able to see a couple of years ago. One of my favorite stage versions is the Hale Centre Theatre version. I must admit that the first time I ever saw it was when I was in it in 1998 (I think that was the year) (the first version at the new building). It was such a wonderful experience. You really feel the true spirit of Christmas. This year I was able to see the production as well. It was sooooo good. Mrs. Crachett and Tiny Tim stole my heart. They both did such a wonderful job! It was great to see two wonderful people play such amazing characters. Tiny Tim taken with my cell phone. Not great quality. It doesn't show how cute he really is.

Well, back to the beginning, I have seen all of these versions of A Christmas Carol but have never read it. So this year, I'm reading it. It's not long at all. Everything has been so hectic and busy that I haven't had time to finish it though. I'm just at the first spirit's visit. Even though I'm not very far into it, I can see why this book is so important. We get so caught up each year on getting presents for everyone and attending every Christmas party we can and getting in line to see Santa that we sometimes forget the real meaning of Christmas. Christ was born on the earth to show and share the love of our Heavenly Father to all mankind. Every day he did something to help someone else. He blessed, he loved, he taught, he sacraficed. The best way to show Christmas love is by following his wonderful and loving example. As Scrooges nephew said, "There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round - apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that - as good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of peole below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And, therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

May our Heather Father bless you and yours during this wonderful season throughout the year and the years to come. As Tiny Time says, "God Bless Us Everyone!"