I read A Christmas Carol every year out loud to my students, and it never ceases to bring the light of the Christmas season into my heart. A few of my favorite lines for you now, and here’s wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year:
“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. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him,
but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough
to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which
some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and
knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite
as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the
malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was
quite enough for him.”
“I am sure I have always thought of
Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration
due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be
apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant
time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when
men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts
freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were
fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures
bound on other journeys. And therefore . . . though it has never put
a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me
good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
“It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive
possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”
Here’s hoping that as the end of this year draws to a close, you find yourself surrounded by people you love, your heart filled up with gratitude for another twelve months of blessings, and your soul motivated to honor the spirit of Christmas in your heart year-round.
Merry Christmas to all!
