Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure, produces evil…”

I adore Christmas! I love the lights. I treasure the ornaments made long ago by my children’s tiny hands. I blare Christmas carols while wrapping gifts for the tree. And I shuffle my schedule around TV Christmas shows: the funny ones, the classic ones, and, yes, the sappy Hallmark ones.

I recently settled in to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. (Disclaimer: If by any small chance you have not seen this, stop reading right now and watch it or else forfeit your right to complain over this spoiler-alert!)

The Grinch hated everything about Christmas: the lights, the ornaments, and the Christmas caroling. As the song states, the Grinch’s “heart was an empty hole.” Being the ultimate party-pooper meant the Grinch lived all alone on the outskirts of the Christmas-obsessed town of Whoville. The greedy and angry Grinch stole every symbol of Christmas from Whoville; the gifts, the decorations, and the Christmas feast. But imagine his surprise when he witnessed the entire town celebrating in spite of it all. Then in a move the Grinch could never have foreseen, little Cindy Lou Who offered him the best Christmas gifts ever: unconditional love, forgiveness, and mercy. Immediately, the Grinch’s heart grew three times in size and a reformed Grinch gladly returned all the stolen loot with the realization, “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

In scripture, a man named Zacchaeus was the Grinch. He was a wealthy and greedy tax collector who stole from the people of Jericho. And although he had every material thing the world could offer, his heart was an empty hole. So, in Luke 19, we find Zacchaeus seeking what he lacked: love, forgiveness, and mercy. And when this greedy man encountered Jesus, the giver of all, his heart surely grew three times in size. A reformed Zacchaeus returned the stolen loot (and then some) to the citizens of Jericho.

So, here’s a tip for all procrastinators still searching the internet for the perfect gift: Try googling “the Heart of Jesus.” This Christmas, consider giving His gifts of love, forgiveness, and mercy. Even the vilest of Grinch-hearts can be transformed by Jesus. And all will see, “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Father God, may we give Your gifts this Christmas and may we seek to fill the holes in our hearts with Your love.

Blessings for the heart of Jesus,

Rita Cochrane