So, here we are again, deep inside the bowels of another Christmas season, and I’ve become a very grumpy, old elf. I don’t know why, maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s the lousy economy, but I just don’t feel like celebrating. I’m not holly and jolly. I don’t feel like drinking egg nogg and spreading Christmas cheer and proclaiming peace on earth and good will toward men. For some reason … it’s just not in me this year.
Let me give you a better idea of how I’m feeling. If Rudolph were guiding Santa’s sleigh and they landed on my roof, I’d cuss out Saint Nick. I’d say, “Hey Nick. Get the hell off my roof. You’re ruining my shingles!” And if he didn’t leave, then I’d shoot Rudolph, gut him out, hang him in my garage and we’d eat him for Christmas dinner. And if that didn’t get me on the naughty list, then … Well, you get the idea.
Now, please understand, I’m not usually this way. I love Christmas. My 13-year-old daughter is busy decorating the house and enjoying it immensely. My wife is busy planning out what to buy for whom and trying to stay within our budget. One family tradition that we have is this: every night in December, we watch a Christmas movie. I already have 25 movies picked out for us.
So, the question remains. Why am I such a grumpy butt this year? And, if I’m honest with myself, it might have something to do with the price of gas, the price of milk and eggs. Or maybe it’s because when I go to the store, I see a crowd of military-age men from a foreign country huddled off to one side speaking in a language I don’t understand? Or maybe it’s because when I go to Costco, I see a man, six feet 5 inches tall with broad shoulders, with long hair, wearing mascara, lipstick and fake breasts, and his name tag says Christie?
Call me old-fashioned, but I just don’t get it. What is there to celebrate about?
But then I ran across this Bible verse, and I paused.
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
And then I can put it all in perspective again. When the apostle Paul wrote those lines, what was the world like for him and his fellow believers? Christians were being arrested and thrown into prison. They were being tortured and killed. He was imprisoned in Rome and had already been beaten and was facing a very uncertain future.
So, what does that tell me about his words? Why did he tell his readers to think about whatever is true, good, noble and pure? And the answer is simple and timeless. Because that’s the attitude that gets you through hard times. You have to stay positive and focused on the good things in life or you’ll give in to despair.
I must admit that the last 4 years of Joe Biden and Covid has taken its toll on my Christmas spirit, but I need to keep it all in perspective. There really are reasons to celebrate. There are many good things happening.
Joe Biden is all but gone. We voted him out in a landslide and good riddance to bad rubbish.
I don’t have to worry about the illegal aliens who don’t speak English and are committing crimes in America. Donald Trump is the cavalry, and he’ll be here in just over a month, and when he gets here, it’s Katie bar the door because there’s going to be hell to pay. He’ll seal the border, deport the illegals, I’ll be able to fill my gas tank again and buy eggs and milk — and dare I say it?
Perhaps even some egg nog?
So, to all you folks out there who’ve had the political and economic crap kicked out of you for the past 4 years. “Take heart. Be of good cheer. It’s Christmas and Christmas is a time for miracles.”
So, what does that mean for me personally? Well, first, I’m not going to shoot Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. I’m not going to cuss out Santa. More importantly, I’m free to think of good things, noble things, purity, and goodness. Why? Because there’s every reason to hope and celebrate.
And always remember this, folks, we are all children of God. We are owned by Him, adopted sons and daughters and heirs to His kingdom. And that’s not so bad now, is it? So, whenever you start to feel sorry for yourself, or you lose hope, or you just become a grumpy old elf like me, remember the words of Apostle Paul sitting in prison and waiting for his demise.
“… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
This Christmas season don’t look behind at the past four years. Instead, look ahead and love your fellow man. Do good to friend and enemy alike and always remember that God is in charge, and nothing happens without his official “okey dokey.”
Merry Christmas folks! God is in control!
