One of my Christmas traditions is to read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Though I know the story well I usually find something new. And I also enjoy the comfort of the familiar story and rhythm of the words.

The ending of the story caught my attention this year.

The last two paragraphs include a description of the change in Ebenezer Scrooge: ―He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world…and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.

In short, the change in Scrooge was not just a ―Christmas season thing, but a new
way of life thing. The joy, generosity, and new life he discovered with the help of the 3 spirits on Christmas Eve shaped this life long after the season had ended. The ―good man was not packed away with the decorations.

And so as the Christmas season once again comes to a close I ponder ―keeping Christmas well. I don’t think it necessarily means keeping a Christmas tree up and playing carols year round. But I do think it could mean living with the message of Christmas planted deep in our hearts. And maybe the light of the Advent Wreath Candles shows the way; living with hope, love, joy and peace. And as such we might discover the truth of Tiny Tim’s benediction; ―God bless us everyone.

Glenn