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The Grinch Lives HereRead the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 Next » » StCatherine - Soft heart for animals Thanks for the kind words. I am not like the original Grinch in that I do have a kinder heart toward animals. I recently saw at a Claire's store some tiny stuffed animals that were replicas of the dog in the Grinch story. I wanted to buy them all to take home to love. It just broke my heart to leave them there, but we had just spent all our money on gifts. I was so broken hearted I said a prayer that they would be bought by someone who would love them. That is probably stupid and sappy, but the Grinch story really tears me up.The title of this article was inspired by a local family who has a sign in their yard that says -- posted by StCatherine » CarolWallace - Stupid and sappy? Heck no! I cried buckets at "The Velveteen Rabbit" - and I didn't read it til I was in my 40s!-- posted by CarolWallace » Bill_Samuel - Real Christmas Right. The real Christmas isn't about toys and baubles materialism. It's about a gift to all of us that you can't buy in a store, but God freely gives us. It is a birthday. We had great Christmases when our family was very poor, because Jesus felt very close. We used to have a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. Each family member would light one candle and share something of thankfulness for how Jesus had been working in their lives. Beats any toy you can buy!-- posted by Bill_Samuel » StCatherine - Great Idea! That birthday cake idea is great! We may do that this year.I'm always looking for simple non-commercial things to do that don't involve being crafty. I am not particularly crafty. -- posted by StCatherine » Laren - Christmas creeps forward.. Kathryn,Thanks for some practical and humane thoughts on Christmas. As you point out, not everyone can or should be expected to live up to the full on "Happy" Christmas ideal. I think you advice about Christmas overload are valuable too. It seems that every year, the shops decorate for Christmas just that little bit earlier, the advertising becomes a little more intense and the whole seasons seems to get lost in a burst of commericalism and a buying frenzy. Even though I am not a Christan, the important message of the season for me, - that family is important and some thing to be cherished - too often gets lost or ignored. -- posted by Laren » SteveK - If you'd like to read a hard-core condemnation of all that Chri If you'd like a hard-core condemnation of all that Christmas has become, read:Liberal Reasons Not to Celebrate Christmas It even has a Grinch, in the very first paragraph. Happy Winter's Solstice, -- posted by SteveK » StCatherine - I like the December Event I like the December Event at Suite101.com for alternative ideas. The gardening, craft and cooking ideas meet my needs for something different and not too commercial to do.-- posted by StCatherine » Dan_Ellsworth - Kathryn, good answer. / Impartial placement of link Kathryn, I like that you pointed to an online event which is has some variety and positive ideas.With fine impartiality, Steve placed his link in a discussion in my topic, too, so we might have two conversations at once on it. I haven't looked elsewhere. -- posted by Dan_Ellsworth » SteveK - Aye, what's this? An attempt to trundle me off into another for Aye, what's this? An attempt to trundle me off into another forum? :-) I've not come here to stir up trouble, I assure you (just like Clinton assured us he was chaste).Actually, my essay, Liberal Reasons Not to Celebrate Christmas, is not anti-Christian, only anti-Christmas. If you read the last section on religion, you'll find I list the criticisms from all points of view, Christian and secular alike. -- posted by SteveK » Dan_Ellsworth - A fine impartiality Understood and partly agreed that Steve's contribution is not anti-Christian, just anti-Christmas. And Steve is not easily trundled. With a fine impartiality, the article outlines almost everybody's possible objections to Christmas. If some objections are more detailed than others, that's to be expected and not a fundamental problem. I think Christmas can and should be saved, but I admit I don't have a well-done rationale at hand. (OK, maybe not even a half-baked one.)Since I'm visiting the Catholic topic, I might mention that the Catholic awareness of the church calendar is useful here, emphasizing the preparation of Advent before the celebration of Christmas. Protestants do that too, but probably less dependably. I think a joyful but disciplined Advent might be the key to saving and redeeming Christmas. -- posted by Dan_Ellsworth « Previous 1 2 Next » Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
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