I used to be a grinch of sorts.  Then someone showed me what Christmas is truly about.

Christmas isn't about getting: it is more about giving, if not for yourself, but to others. 

I went to a church musical (okay, a Cantata, which has both drama and music) and the message truly hit home.  I left the church in tears, mostly for myself because in the past, I didn't care if people got anything for Christmas or not.  I was more interested in getting something for myself.  As long as I got something, that was what mattered most to me.

Let's face it: the Grinch Who Stole Christmas had nothing on me, and neither did Ebenezer Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol".  Compared to them, I made both look soft.  I was a real hardhearted bastard.

I treated my own family (and my employees) like yesterday's news.  I never really got them anything but I made sure I got something for myself.  Then a friend asked me to come to church last Sunday and I don't know what it was, but I suddenly felt cheap.  Dirt cheap.  I felt like the world's worst person.  By the time the Cantata was over, I was in tears.

I know people were looking at me as I blubbered and sobbed noisiliy, but at the time, I didn't really care.  All I knew was that God was speaking to me and He was none too pleased.  I asked God to forgive me right then and there and I asked Him to come into my heart because I could no longer stand living like this: like a Grinch.

Ever since, I have been making it a point to be a lot nicer to people, acknowledging them and wishing them a Merry Christmas.  I have also given my employees a Christmas bonus (something I never done before) and gave them the day off so they could have Christmas with their families/loved ones.  In addition, I got my family presents; boy, will they be surprised come Christmas morning!

I am so glad my friend asked me to come to church with him because it's totally changed how I think and now that I have God in my life, my world has suddenly started looking a lot rosier for me.  This is a Christmas Lesson I will never forget because I got the Greatest Gift of all: the assurance of a place in Heaven and a peace and joy that I have never truly felt.  I got the best Christmas present of all time and I'm still smiling as I think about it!