Our family returns to a few favorite Christmas movies every year. So far we’ve watched It’s a Wonderful Life and Christmas Vacation. But my favorite Christmas story turned into a movie is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Such a great scene when Mr. Scrooge awakes from his dreams and realizes that he has not missed Christmas morning! As Scrooge begins to make things right after years of disregard for his fellow man, we watch the good one person can do for another.
In Dickens’ view legitimate faith moves us to aid those less fortunate. The selfishness of Marley doomed him to an afterlife chained to his money box, but Scrooge got a second chance at an eternity contoured by generosity toward his community.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.
Charles Dickens
Jesus took us to a similar place when he taught the crowds to do unto others as you would have them do to you, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Generosity knows no season—it never fades nor wears out.
Lighten the burden of another this holiday and you’ll be putting the words of Dickens, which he borrowed from Jesus, into good practice.
Oh I see the link now to the George C Scott version. Excellent!!
Which version do you prefer? I love the Patrick Stewart version made for TNT years ago. Although Muppets Christmas Carol is a close second.