A Very Grinchy Christmas

So I have a confession: I’ve been Grinchy this Christmas season. A little pouty about how different this Indian Christmas is compared to Christmas at home.

First you have to know, I’m Christmas obsessed.

This time of year, I become irritatingly excited and child-like. I annoy everyone around with my excessive use of Christmas carols, Starbucks holiday drinks (which only feed my holiday-induced craze), and hyperbole;
“Isn’t this the BEST time of year, EVER?!”
“Isn’t that Christmas [insert movie, song, cheesy decor, tradition] the MOST WONDERFUL THING EVER?!”
”I can’t WAIT to see MORE people I love!” [So they too can want to beat the Christmas right out of me]
…etc., etc.

But not this year. This year, I have been very Grinchy and I’m sure I’m on Santa’s naughty list.

I’ve spent many moments missing home – and American Christmas excitement – and in that, missed the Christmas miracles happening all around me.
       God is growing my marriage in astounding ways, drawing my husband and I together through trials and joys found overseas.
“Merry Christmas,” Jesus whispered. But I was Grinchy, and I didn’t hear it.

        I get to PREACH THE GOSPEL – not just every day, but multiple times a day. God has entrusted little me to tell the most important story of all time.
“Merry Christmas,” Jesus whispered. But I was Grinchy, and I didn’t hear it.

        The other day, a stubborn Hindu woman declared she would not believe in Jesus unless he healed her severe limp & leg pains. Exchanging serious looks, our team set to praying for her. We explained that in the Bible, faith in Jesus is a prerequisite for his healing – she had to have faith in his healing power, not just us. Many prayers and a good time later, she began stomping her feet vigorously. She. was. healed. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ, who was born as a helpless baby. Only moments before, she could barely hobble (it was painful even to watch her try to walk) – and now, she proudly strode around with ease, agility. She accepted Jesus on the spot and left her Hindu idols behind.
“Merry Christmas,” Jesus whispered. But I was Grinchy, and I didn’t hear it.

And God’s Christmas miracles were not over. Because despite my determination to stomp around (proverbially and literally) … Jesus grew my heart.
He opened my eyes to the astounding things happening all around me, and even inside of me … reminding me of one of the BEST Christmas things EVER – that 1966 classic, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas:

“[Loren] hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming.
It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same.

It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!
Then the grinch thought of something [she] hadn’t before
Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

… and in [India] they say,
The grinch’s heart grew 3 sizes that day.”

All it took was some truth for my heart to swell. “Your words were found, and I ate them, and they became to me a great joy and the delight of my heart.” Jeremiah 15:16

When I remembered the center of Christmas – Jesus – when I went back to the basics of why it’s the most wonderful time of year …
My Christmas joy returned ten-fold.

“Unto us, a savior is born.” Is there anything more beautiful?

“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given …
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government
and of peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9

And that miracle is profound enough to change the heart of even the most Grinchy among us.
 

So Merry Christmas, baby – it’s THE MOST wonderful time of the year.