God Bless Us Every One!: Devotional Inspiration from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
192
God Bless Us Every One!: Devotional Inspiration from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781634099868 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Barbour Publishing, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 09/01/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 192 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
God Bless Us Every One!
By Annie Tipton
Barbour Publishing, Inc
Copyright © 2016 Barbour Publishing, Inc.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63409-986-8
CHAPTER 1
Stave One
SCROOGE'S HEART OF COLD
Oh, but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire, secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog days; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn't know where to have him. The heaviest rain and snow and hail and sleet could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often "came down" handsomely, and Scrooge never did.
Ebenezer Scrooge is not a nice man. Call him what you want: grouch, party pooper, old grump, stinker, killjoy, jerk. He is not just having a bad day — he is having a bad life. And he seems to do his very best to make everyone around him as miserable as possible, too. Scrooge would do well to listen to Mom's advice that if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Scrooge with his icy demeanor freezes the warmth out of any situation, even a joyous holiday celebration. He has something close to an evil superpower.
Here in the first description of the main character of our story, we don't learn the full extent of his miserly, greedy ways. We don't learn about his lack of interpersonal skills or the fact that he despises Christmas. Instead, we learn that he is a cold, hard man who would like nothing more than to be left alone. How cold is he? He is so cold that he acts as his own personal air conditioner in the summer and Deepfreeze in the winter. Scrooge is so stuck in his arctic ways that it seems the only way this frigid man will experience a thaw is with help from others. (We'll get to that later.)
But as the oyster he is, ol' Ebenezer won't let anyone close enough even to try to help him. In fact, Scrooge thinks he is fine just the way he is, so why would he need help from anyone, anyway?
Most people are easy to love, and those are the folks we choose to be around every day. But Jesus calls us to love the Ebenezer Scrooges in our lives. Showing love to these unlovable stinkers doesn't always feel nice, but Jesus is very clear in what He tells us in Luke 6:32–33, 35 (NLV):
"If you love those who love you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also do good to those who do good to them. ... But love those who hate you. Do good to them. Let them use your things and do not expect something back. Your reward will be much. You will be the children of the Most High. He is kind to those who are not thankful and to those who are full of sin."
Why does Jesus teach us to love our Scrooges? Because He loves us despite the fact that we are stinkers, too. We don't deserve the gift of God's Son coming to earth as a baby that night in Bethlehem. We don't deserve Jesus' sacrifice of allowing Himself to be killed on the cross in our place. We do not deserve God's love and forgiveness and gift of salvation. We don't deserve any of it, but we are immeasurably thankful for it.
Who are the Scrooges in your life? Ask God to open your heart to ways to love these people. Keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities to share Jesus' love in practical ways.
My children, let us not love with words or in talk only. Let us love by what we do and in truth. 1 JOHN 3:18 NLV
TOO BUSY FOR CHRISTMAS
Once upon a time — of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve — old Scrooge sat busy in his countinghouse. It was cold, bleak, biting weather, foggy withal, and he could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already — it had not been light all day — and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighboring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that, although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that Nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale.
Scrooge is a busy man. Busy getting on with his cold, hard, solitary life. He is an exceptional worker — has been his whole life — and silly things like Christmas are nothing but a distraction from getting on with the importance of his work.
Christmas Eve is the same as any other day to Ebenezer, and the dank, dark London winter is no cause for a festive mood. If anything, the weather affirms Scrooge's state of mind. So he continues counting his money, tallying the profits in an accounting ledger with a tiny stub of a pencil as wispy fingers of fog creep through the keyhole of his office door. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters but the task in front of him.
It's easy to pity Scrooge in this scene. Although we don't read any description of holiday festivities or merrymaking, we do know that it's Christmas Eve. Perhaps a street or two away, tiny shops are already filled with last-minute errand runners. A bell choir may be ringing in the joy of the holiday, and a group of grubby street children may be singing a slightly off-tune rendition of "Good King Wenceslas" with the hopes of collecting a shilling in their caps. And Scrooge is oblivious to the possibility of it all — shoulders slumped over his desk, head down, squinting at the column of numbers that doesn't quite add up.
What does your daily life look like? Are you and your family suffering from jam-packed schedules, and are those schedules even tighter November through January? Between work, school, sports, clubs, hobbies, special performances, volunteering, caroling, baking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, decorating, and partying, your holiday to-do list may seem like the never-gets-done list.
Although we probably don't want to identify ourselves as Scrooges, we may find that we have more in common with him than we think. Scrooge is so caught up in his own work that the joy of Christmas is passing him by. Granted, Scrooge has no interest in celebrating Christmas (and you may love Christmas), but the result is the same: if our time and attention are so divided between every event and task, the true holiness and meaning of the holiday will pass us by, too.
During Jesus' time on earth, He taught His followers the importance of rest, and He even modeled a life of rest to His apostles:
Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31 NLT)
Did you catch that? "... Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." We all have had times when we have been this busy — and Jesus knows exactly what that feels like!
Christmas can be a time of peace and refreshment, but only if we are willing to make rest a priority. That might mean saying no to some of the unimportant voices shouting for your attention. This year make decisions as a family about the most important holiday activities and events, and then agree not to add any more to your schedules once the plan is in place. You might be surprised to find that the most meaningful times of the season are often the simplest ones.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. PSALM 62:1–2 NIV
A NEPHEW'S KIND WORDS
"A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
"Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!"
He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.
"Christmas a humbug, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew. "You don't mean that, I am sure?"
"I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough."
"Come, then," returned the nephew gaily. "What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You're rich enough."
Scrooge, having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said "Bah!" again; and followed it up with "Humbug!" ...
"Don't be angry, uncle. Come! Dine with us tomorrow!" ...
"Why did you get married?" said Scrooge.
"Because I fell in love."
"Because you fell in love!" growled Scrooge, as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas.
"Good afternoon!"
"Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?"
"Good afternoon," said Scrooge.
"I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?"
"Good afternoon!" said Scrooge.
"I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humor to the last. So a merry Christmas, uncle!"
Scrooge has little family left in this world, but his nephew, Fred, enters the Scrooge & Marley office with enough Christmas spirit to spread a glimmer of light in the depressing place. From the moment Fred bursts through the front door, it's obvious he is a young man full of joy. And not just because it's December twenty-fourth. No, Fred is a man who lives with a song perpetually in his heart, a smile on his lips, and a twinkle in his eye.
The kind of person Ebenezer Scrooge despises.
Uncle Ebbie's unwelcoming grumblings and humbugs to Fred's greetings are nothing new to Fred — his mother's only brother never had a good word to say to anyone, Christmas or not. And even though Fred knows Scrooge will turn him down just as he does every year, nephew extends to uncle an invitation for Christmas dinner at the home he shares with his wife.
Scrooge jumps at the opportunity to change the subject and take a jab at his nephew. "Why did you get married?" (In other words: "Wives cost too much money and are a waste of time. Yours is no exception, nephew!")
Still, Fred speaks kindly to his old uncle, and even when Scrooge repeatedly dismisses him from the office, Fred continues to return kind words, reason, and Christmas joy. Try as he might, Scrooge simply cannot snuff out the Christmas candle inside Fred's heart.
Responding with loving words when we encounter hateful or mean language and attitudes is not easy. Sometimes, especially at Christmas, it may even be the people we love and care for who say things that hurt us:
"When are you going to find that special someone and settle down?"
"You know, next year would probably be a good one to lose that weight you keep saying you want to lose."
"Isn't it about time for you two to start having kids?"
"I simply can't stand people who would vote for that candidate."
Although spending time with family during Christmas is a blessing, there are times when personalities clash and relationships can be strained. What difficult topics or conversations do you know will come up during celebrations with family or friends? How can you steer the conversation in a more positive and uplifting way, rather than falling into the trap of retaliating with hurtful words?
Want some guidance from God's Word? Here is what Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) says about the words we use:
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Words are powerful tools that can be used as either demolition equipment to tear down or bricks to build up. Scrooge is the foreman of the demo crew, and Fred is a master bricklayer. This Christmas choose to follow Fred's lead with kind words that encourage others.
A gentle answer turns away anger, but a sharp word causes anger. The tongue of the wise uses much learning in a good way, but the mouth of fools speaks in a foolish way. ... A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit. PROVERBS 15:1–2, 4 NLV
THE TWO GENTLEMEN
They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold, and now stood with their hats off, in Scrooge's office. They had books and papers in their hands, and bowed to him....
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." ...
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned — they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
It seems that Christmas Eve is going to be nothing but one long interruption to Ebenezer's work, because as soon as his nephew, Fred, leaves, two gentlemen enter the office with one goal in mind: to secure a donation for the poor from the firm of Scrooge & Marley. These two well-meaning men have spent the day talking to businessmen, and every conversation has ended in donations of varying sizes. After all, it is Christmas Eve — a time when most people open their wallets and give.
But Ebenezer Scrooge isn't most people.
When the gentlemen state the purpose for their visit, Scrooge responds in a way that, to him, seems very logical. Since he already pays taxes to fund the government-run prisons and workhouses, the needy should go there.
The wide-eyed surprise on the gentlemen's faces gives Scrooge a bit of a jolt. Maybe they'd never thought of such a novel idea! This exchange is his favorite one to have with charity workers. He knew what was coming next: "Not everyone can take advantage of those services, Mr. Scrooge, and many would rather die!"
A malicious twinkle pierces Scrooge's eyes as he utters a response that has taken a lifetime of coldhearted selfishness to craft. "If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
You're a mean one, Mr. Scrooge. Look up scrooge in the dictionary, and you will see that this fictional character has his very own entry: "a mean person who is usually stingy with money." A miser, cheapskate, penny-pincher, skinflint, tightwad. Although being responsible with money is a good thing, being a scrooge is something entirely different.
It's easy to fall into the trap of selfishness when it comes to money. After all, we work hard to earn money, so why should we give it to others — especially when we think they might not deserve it?
The truth is that it's important to realize that our money is not really ours. God owns everything, and He allows us to manage His wealth. Truly living out God's plans for His money means using our resources to show His love to people who do not have as much as we have. When we do this, we are showing that we love God, too.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from God Bless Us Every One! by Annie Tipton. Copyright © 2016 Barbour Publishing, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION,STAVE ONE,
Scrooge's Heart of Cold,
Too Busy for Christmas,
A Nephew's Kind Words,
The Two Gentlemen,
The Humble Bob Cratchit,
The London Fog,
Scrooge's Lonely Christmas Eve,
The Problem of the Door Knocker,
Nothing to Fear,
The Distraction of Worry,
Jacob Marley's Ghost,
Scrooge Takes His Medicine,
Marley's Regret,
STAVE TWO,
Anticipation,
The Ghost of Christmas Past,
Light Snuffers,
Trying New Things,
A Thousand Odors Floating in the Air,
"But It's Too Late Now",
Christmas Forgiveness,
The Fezziwigs,
True Hospitality,
The Importance of Encouragement,
Ebenezer's Two Masters,
Ending a Relationship,
Childlike Wonder,
What Could Have Been,
STAVE THREE,
While We Wait,
The Ghost of Christmas Present,
Imperfect Christmas,
Peaceful Christmas,
The Problem of Hypocrisy,
Sprinkle Your Torch,
Making the Most of What We Have,
Home for Christmas,
The Tiniest of Tims,
Simple Joys,
"God Bless Us, Every One!",
The Vacant Seat,
"The Founder of the Feast, Indeed!",
"I Am Sorry for Him",
A Friend Can Be a Mirror,
Ignorance and Want,
STAVE FOUR,
Learning from Our Differences,
The Worst of Things,
Tiny Tim's Legacy,
Scrooge's Demise,
STAVE FIVE,
Living in the Past, Present, and Future,
True Celebration,
Secret Blessings,
Christmas Forgiveness,
Surprise Generosity,
CONCLUSION,