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From Grinchly To Grateful...A Former Grinch's Holiday Transformation (Part One) by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Rated "G" by the Author.
A person of the Scroogely sort suddenly receives the message of Christmas through an encounter with a little child with a heartbreaking disability...
I don't know why I even bothered to be so hateful, so callous, so self-centered...I was always known as a "Scrooge", a grinchly sort of person who didn't care about Christmas or what it entailed. I was too busy with my high-powered career as a corporate executive, and my job was the center of my world. The more money I made or the more money that my company brought in, that was what mattered to me, and I couldn't care less if I didn't even celebrate Christmas.
Christmas, to me, was always a pain in the arse, if you know what I mean. I didn't have time to go shopping for myself, my family, or let alone, my employees, and I didn't want to spend my time running around crowded malls like a chicken with its head cut off, or battle traffic as people fought for precious parking spaces, or go to the annual employee Christmas party, which were boring to me at best. It seemed that my employees didn't appreciate me or what I tried to do for them, and if I could, I would have fired all of them long ago. I just didn't give a flying fig about Christmas any more, and to me, it was nothing but a huge, overcommercialized fiasco that brought more in the way of disappointment than magic.
But then I saw that kid at the mall, that sort of kid who somehow attracts your attention the first time you see him (or her). I was at the mall the other day, picking up a bottle of whiskey for the Christmas party, and there was this kid, a little boy sitting in a wheelchair that seemed too large for his scrawny little body. He was ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, and he had such a look of hope on his thin, young face, and his blue eyes sparkled with life. He saw me looking at him, and he piped up in a small, high voice, "Care to give, Mister? It's for a good cause!" His gaze never left me as he looked at my towering, near 7 foot height, and he looked at me hopefully. The little boy was wearing a tweedy coat that was two sizes too big for him, and he was on oxygen, but the smile on his face lit up the room.
I don't know what caused me to give some money to the child, but something in me opened up, and I suddenly felt an unfamiliar feeling of goodwill. I wanted to help this child; I figured he was poor and destitute, and all of a sudden, all the employee parties, staff meetings, deadlines, business trips, and worrying about overtime didn't seem so important to me. All that mattered to me at this particular time was this little boy who had some kind of terminal disease helping others in need; and at the sight of his kindness, my throat closed up and my eyes teared; and I reached in to my wallet, where I pulled out a crisp, brand new $100 bill. I shakily placed the $100 bill into the little boy's frail, pale hand, and I told him to put it to good use. At the sight of the money, his blue eyes teared up and overflowed, and not saying a word, he reached up, and gave me a small hug as he wrapped his thin arms about my waist. He said, "God bless you, sir, and thank you so much! You will have helped several people with your generosity, and God is going to bless you really good! May you have a very Merry Christmas, sir!"
"Yeah, yeah. You, too, kid", I mumbled as I walked away, thinking that this would be the last time I would see or think of him. But that night, I could not sleep, for the image of this pitiful child sitting in a wheelchair kept invading my dreams. I knew I didn't sleep much that night, and ever since, the Message of Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me. I decided that my business-oriented world or worrying about myself wasn't worth all the pain or bitterness that I had held inside me all these years. All of a sudden, I found myself caring for a small child I had never even seen before, or for others in need, and I started writing down names of charities that I would be giving some of my money to, to help the downtrodden or those in the greatest need. My heart was bursting with joy and renewed hope, and all of a sudden, the Message of Christ's Love reached my hardened heart; and I don't know why, but I couldn't help it. I just lay back on my pillow, and I began to cry in spite of myself.
This happened only two days ago, but the image of that little boy with the white hair and the blue eyes, sitting in a wheelchair, still resides in my mind, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get him out of my mind. I guess he must have been an angel of the Lord's, I don't know; but ever since I first laid eyes on him, I can't seem to get him out of my mind, and I find myself being nice to people and caring for them. In the last two days, I have been wishing everyone I see a "Merry Christmas" or the "Happiest of Holidays", and I have been wanting to do something for that little boy or others in similar circumstances. The change in me has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I owe all of this to a little blonde-haired angel boy in a wheelchair who cared enough to acknowledge me in such a meaningful way, even when nothing seemed to matter to me.
Its true Karen...worry is a poison that seeps through our system destroying us...if we allow it..
Always better to be upbeat and positive...
Very good sentiments expressed here..
Peter
another stunning, heart-touching write--a life changing write--may others see and act on its message to pass it on--to give to those less fortunate than them--beautifully penned! another keeper--thank you for touching MY heart today
In "A Touch of Your Presence" are words that would inspire, encourage and strengthen one's soul when faced with challenges and difficulties and to know the awesomeness of God's power.
He Keeps Me is a devotional journey of revelation and insight birthed out of prayer.Searching the Word of God revealed the many ways that He has kept me and continues to keep me. Each day is an opportunity to recognize that God is mindful of you, eve
I don't know why I even bothered to be so hateful, so callous, so self-centered...I was always known as a "Scrooge", a grinchly sort of person who didn't care about Christmas or what it entailed. I was too busy with my high-powered career as a corporate executive, and my job was the center of my world. The more money I made or the more money that my company brought in, that was what mattered to me, and I couldn't care less if I didn't even celebrate Christmas.
