A Christmas Carol Revisited

Lailia Tov;
One of the many traditions so many of us enjoy doing this time of the year is the watching and/or of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
Ah old, Ebenezer Scrooge!
How often those of us who do not celebrate Christmas or "keep it" as others may are called "Scrooge."
Frankly, unless one truly feels as old Ebbie does about the whole affair, it is an unfair comment.
Because, if one truly reads the story, the backdrop is Christmas, but Scrooge's bitter, angry spirit really has nothing to do with the holiday.
Ebenezer's mother dies in childbirth, his birth. And as a result, his father turns away from the boy, leaving him to be raised in boarding schools, until his half-sister Fran manages to change their father's harden heart.
As a young man, he losts that dear sister when she as a married woman dies having Ebenezer's nephew and now only relative. He turns from the boy, just as his father had done.
Ebenezer soon grows to believe the only thing one can truly rely on is money and his drive to become rich drives even the woman he loves away. He later is showed by the Spirit of Christmas Past, Bell not only married a wealthly man, just as himself, but blessed with many children that could have been his own.
Over the years his heart grows cold and closes to all.
It really doesn't matter the time of year or reason, Scrooge is a bitter old man who loves and cares for no one. Not even himself.
The needs of the poor that is greater during this of the year only heightens Scrooge's feelings.
Interesting, the nephew, Fred, who also loses his beloved mother in childbirth, his heart reminds open and gentle. He even continues to reach out to the uncle who rejects him. He, along with Scrooge's Clark, never allow Scrooge sour mood to affect them or dampen their joy.
After the night visits, Scrooge is a changed man. But not just to Christmas, but to his fellowman. Not just Christmas Day, but throughout the year.
Scrooge chose to be a sourpuss and when shown his life and his fate, he had the chose to continue on his path or change.
We are have that same choice; we can choice to walk about looking like we dined on sour grapes or feasted on sweet wine and apples. We can take the hurts of our lives and use it as a sword to attack others, or as oilment to help heal the world around us.
The holidays tend to brings out what is in our hearts; the bitter or the sweet.
I like to stick sheperd staff's in my hot chocolate.
What about you?