Wednesday, December 8, 2010

An Important Lesson From Cindy Lou Who


Every Who
Down in Who-ville
Liked Christmas a lot....
But the Grinch
Who lived just north of Who-ville
DID NOT!


Those words begin the well know work of Dr. Seuss "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". For me, it begins a story I have loved since childhood. I love the Grinch. I love the funny looking Whos. I love to watch the excitement over Christmas. And truth be told, the huge Christmas tree in the middle of Who-ville is my dream tree. *sigh*

Then a few years ago the Ron Howard version came to the big screen. And I fell in love all over again. You might be surprised as to why.
Jim Carrey does a fabulous Grinch.
The back story was really well written and answered a lot of unanswered questions.
Faith Hill's music has a powerful message.
But the reason I love this story is Cindy Lou Who.
I love her heart. She looks around and sees things that confuse her.
All the gift buying she finds "superfluous".
 She meets the Grinch. He doesn't quite fit all that has been said about him. He saves her life. She believes there is something good in him.


For those of you that have seen the movie, you know that Cindy spends all her time and effort to reach out to the Grinch. She believes he just misunderstood. He just needs to have some love shown to him. 
I love this. She sees someone that needs love.
She gives it. She gives it even though nothing was returned. She gives love even though the object of her love was seen as unlovable to everyone else. She expected that her love could make a difference in the Grinch's life.
And she was right. The Grinch's heart was changed. It grew. He learned to love. He learned to care. He learned to get rid of the hate and hard feelings he had been harboring for so long. 

That is my favorite part! Watching the Grinch change. Watching Cindy Lou Who look at the Grinch and say,   " Nobody should be alone on Christmas" and the Grinch realizing what it is was like for the first time to receive love. 

Cindy Lou expected a heart change. 

Are there those around you that you believe could never change? Their heart is just too hard? 

This Christmas season, as we gather around our manger scenes to rejoice over the birth of the Savior, remember why He came.

He came to change hearts. 

Be a Cindy Lou Who this year, and EXPECT to see hearts changed by the love of Christ!

Chasing After Hearts,
Glenda Johnson




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