Ever notice how the Holiday season tends to bring out an abundance of complainers?

We’ve all seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas TV show and how the main character spends 90% of the movie complaining about Christmas, the Whos, the food they serve, the decorations, etc. etc.

What a...GRINCH!

We’ve all seen the movie, A Christmas Carol, where Ebenezer Scrooge complains about having to pay Bob Cratchit for a day he doesn’t have to work and also about the poor, barking out, “Bah Humbug” every chance he gets.

What a...SCROOGE!

In A Christmas Story, Mr. Parker (Ralphie’s dad) complains he doesn’t get a tie for Christmas. Or, Ralphie complaining because his ring decoder was an advertisement gimmick or that he is asked to put on the bunny suit his aunt made for him.

What a.. nincompoop!

In, A Charlie Brown Christmas, all his friends heap criticisms and  grievances on good old Charlie Brown after he returns to the auditorium with a withered little tree. Even Charlie gets in the act when he complains about Christmas being so “commercialized”.

What a...BLOCKHEAD!

Isn’t Christmas supposed to be full of cheer, jolliness and glee? 

Isn’t Christmas supposed to be about giving, about peace, about love, about tranquility?

Instead of us learning the lessons of complainers by watching our favorite holiday season TV shows, why can’t we learn to practice being satisfied for the sake of ourselves and others everyday? Why is complaining about something so empowering to people? Why is there so much hate in the world?

We at the Patriot have received several requests from people asking that we stop delivery of our newspaper to their homes. They complain that they “don’t read it” and we are “wasting paper”, “wasting their time” and “wasting money” by having the paper sent to their homes.

We explain to them they are receiving the newspaper for FREE at a cost the newspaper and the advertisers pay for. We tell these objectors that all they have to do — if they are so inclined — is throw the newspaper in the recycling bin and that would be that. Sounds simple right?

Apparently, that can be too much to ask for as the same people who complain about getting the newspaper they don’t want, are typically the same people who complain about the content. 

Why read it if you don’t want it, is what I say?

Did you (complainer) ever take into consideration that the FREE newspaper that you don’t want and complain about is providing jobs for the post office delivery drivers, the printers, suppliers, salespeople, designers, writers — and the very people, advertisers and businesses that operate  and exist in your community? Do you file complaints to the other companies that send advertising materials in the mail? Your so-called, “junk mail”?

Here’s an idea...How about all of us this Christmas season, be a little more like the people at the end of the Christmas movies than at the beginning. For example, the Grinch with his bursting heart riding the sleigh to re-deliver Christmas presents to the Whos...Or Scrooge shouting “Merry Christmas!” at the top of his lungs to anyone and everyone who listens. Or Ralphie lying in bed on Christmas night with a smile on his face and his brand new BB gun by his side. Or, Charlie Brown and his friends singing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” next to the glorious little tree once ridiculed.

Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. His story is one of truth, love, and hope.

Is it the gifts under the tree? The lights in the windows? The cards in the mail? The turkey dinners with family and friends? Snow in the yard? Stockings hanging in the living room?

No, it’s simply the gift of a Savior and the peace, joy and gratitude it comes with.