In the great story written by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, the main character was Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge was the mean, old business owner whose only goal in life was to scratch out one more penny of profit. He would not even put coal in the stove to keep the workers warm. For me, the hero of the story was Bob Cratchit. He was the employee of Mr. Scrooge who barely made enough money to put food on the table—surely not enough to pay for the medical care needed for his crippled son, Tiny Tim. There is a scene in the movie when Scrooge is visited by a Ghost—the one for Christmas Present. In this scene, Scrooge is in the presence of the Cratchit family. They are preparing for dinner, and Mrs. Cratchit makes a disparaging remark about Scrooge, but Bob defends him and does not complain. Bob Cratchit is a good man!

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. For the good man—the blameless, the upright, the man of peace—he has a wonderful future ahead of him. For him there is a happy ending.
Psalm 37:23–24, 37

Bob Cratchit saved Ebenezer Scrooge because he was a good man. No one who knew the working environment would blame Bob for complaining; he had every right to. But he didn’t. I know this is just a story, but what if each of us took the high road this Christmas season? When someone makes a comment that we would normally jump all over, we let it pass; when we get frustrated because the bread pudding gets burned, we compliment the chef in a loving way; when someone complains about someone else, we find a positive. We can be a better man, a better woman, a better Christian—it will lead us to a happy ending!

So today as we prepare for Christmas, Lord, we thank You of all the blessings in our lives—there are so many. Our family, our friends, and yes, Lord, we even thank You for those who annoy us, torment us, and those we have difficulty dealing with because through those individuals, Lord, You truly teach us the most. Lord, we pray the words of Tiny Tim: “God bless us, every one.”

Have a very blessed day.