Steal Your Joy
A few weeks ago, during one of my sermons, I shared one of my favorite phrases, “Don’t yuck somebody’s yum.” It is one of my favorite phrases because it reminds me that just because I don’t like something it doesn’t mean that someone else can’t feel differently. The other day, I was eating breakfast with my dad before he left back home and I had ordered cabbage hash browns. I know that the smell of cooked cabbage is not very pleasing, but I have to tell you that these cabbage hash browns were amazing. I was just about to start eating mine when a lady sitting at a table nearby commented, “That smells terrible, yuck!” I was a little put off by her comment and I can tell you I unfortunately allowed it to sour my experience a little.
Why do we so often feel the need to criticize someone for what they enjoy? I feel like it is one way that we tend to steal other people’s joy. But can your joy be stolen? Well, the Grinch from the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas thought he could. Last week, we discussed how the Grinch had stolen everything that he thought brought joy to the Whos of Who-ville. When he came across Cindy-Lou he flat out lied about what he was doing so that he could continue. This week, in the story we are going to look at the Grinch’s moment of triumph or so he thought, anyhow.
After the Grinch had stolen everything from the Whos he retreats to his place on Mount Crumpit to exam what he had done. However, instead of sadness like he had expected he heard joy. Joy!?!?! How could that be? He had stolen everything that he thought brought the Whos joy, but yet he hadn’t. The Grinch realizes that what brought them joy was much deeper than materialistic items, that Christmas is much more than the decorations and gifts. Joy, real joy, is much more than the little things that bring us happiness and comfort. The joy God provides comes through our relationship with God and others. No one can truly steal that.
This Sunday, it is my hope that you will come to church twice that day! Christmas Eve will look a bit different this year because it happens to fall on a Sunday. We will have one 4th Sunday of advent service at 10:45 AM where we will continue this conversation, but then we will have two Christmas Eve Candlelight services (6:00 PM and 11:00 PM) where we will explore how Christmas is more than the decorations, food, and gifts. I hope you will be able to join us twice this Christmas Eve!
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
