Bah Humbug!

The missus and I took the little elves to see "A Christmas Carol" over the weekend. The term "Bah Humbug" is one often remembered when we think of this story. Mr. Scrooge was a very unhappy man who forced his employee to work in the cold and didn't let him use more coal for the fire. Scrooge also didn't treat his sister's son very nicely when he came to visit. Then, his employee Bob Cratchitit asked for Christmas Day off to be with his family. Among Cratchit's children was a crippled child, Tiny Tim.

Different visitors take a sleeping Mr. Scrooge through dreams to see himself as a young boy, as a young man, as he is today and as life will be in the future if he doesn't change his ways. He wakes up on Christmas morning, full of happy Christmas spirit and treats everyone well. He visited his nephew; he sent his employee Cratchit's family a big goose to cook for Christmas dinner; he even gave Bob Cratchit a raise.

Now, most of us are not quite as ornery as old Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, but the lesson from the story is an easy one to remember all year round: the joy of sharing. Mr Scrooge learned to share his wealth and give Mr. Cratchit more money in his paycheck each week. He came to share his coal when the office got cold. He shared his heart with his relatives as well as with strangers he met on the street by sharing his smile and his laugh!

I laughed when he laid down in the snow and made a snow angel. Have you ever done that? I know you know how to smile and laugh. The best part about smiles is that they are free and you shouldn't get tired out smiling, because it takes fewer muscles to make your mouth smile than to make your mouth frown.

I hope you've had or will have the chance to one day see this play or read the story. Even more importantly, I hope you take my advice and share your smiles and laughs with everyone you meet. God bless you and remember: Santa Claus is coming to town, so you better be good for goodness' sake!

See you next wEDnesday!

EDdie Elf