It seems I’ve been a stickler about words for a while now. I remember in sixth grade practicing Morning Has Broken. There’s one line that says, “God’s recreation of the new day.” The music director insisted we say, ‘recreation’ (refreshment by means of a pasttime). I thought it should be ‘re-creation’ (act of creating something new). It makes a whole lot more sense to me. Sadly, the teacher won out because Cat Stevens pronounced it ‘recreation’.

I’ve thought along the same lines with Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It is mistitled. The Grinch didn’t steal Christmas so how can the story say how he did something he didn’t do? And the point of the story is that even after you take away all the decorations, food and gifts, you can’t take away the true Christmas spirit.

So this Christmas season, don’t let the commercialism or crowds or grumpy people get you down. Just remember what the Grinch realized. It caused his heart to grow three sizes.

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

(From Dr. Suess’ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”)

Now there’s something to smile about.