Christmas Conversation #19: How do you deal with the Grinches in your life this Christmas?

By Stacey Tuttle

Why is it that the Grinch is so comical and adorable, and Scrooge is just so utterly unloveable?  They are both synonymous with negativity and hatin’ on Christmas.  Maybe it’s because the Grinch is green.  Unfortunately, the Grinches in our lives aren’t odd little furry green creatures who speak in rhyme.  We might be able to find something more loveable in them if that was the case. 

But they’re not.  They are more like Scrooge.  They are human and often utterly unloveable.  They are negative, critical and in the way.  They seem to take secret delight in not only their own misery, but also in sharing it with us—their own warped sense of Christmas giving. 

Maybe it’s a stranger in the mall or a cashier, or maybe it’s something closer to home, a neighbor or a roommate or a family member you are forced to spend time with at holidays.  Or maybe (and this may be the worst of all) you find that there is a Grinch inside of you looking for opportunities to ruin your Christmas by whispering discontent, insecurities and strife in your head. 

Share your best advice on how to handle the Grinches in your life this Christmas!  And be encouraged, both Scrooge and the Grinch had a change of heart at the end of the story – there is hope.  NO ONE is beyond the Love of God!

Check out our other Christmas Conversations:

We have 25 different “conversations” going online and we’d love to hear your thoughts!  See the list below and add your two cents when and where you can, and benefit from the collective think tank as you go!

1. How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping?
2. How do you bring Jesus into your shopping experience?
3. What do you think about Christmas music?
4. What’s the worst Christmas song and why?
5. What’s your best idea for using a Christmas movie to spark a conversation about Christ?
6. What’s the worst Christmas movie and why?
7. What’s the most meaningful Christmas tradition that your family has?
8. How do you get your kids attention (or even your own) off of the gifts you get?
9. How much is too much when it comes to giving your kids gifts for Christmas?
10. What are your favorite service-oriented things to do during Christmas?
11. Is Santa a naughty or nice Christmas tradition and why?
12. What Christmas traditions have you chosen not to follow, and what have you replaced them with?
13. If you’ve chosen to do Santa, how can you use him to point your kids to Jesus?
14. Do lighting displays add to or detract from the real meaning of Christmas?
15. What kinds of gifts can you give to non-Christian friends that make Jesus attractive?
16. What are your best ideas for using Christmas to spur conversations about Jesus?
17. Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas – Does it really matter?
18. Should we boycott stores based on Christian principles during the Holidays?
19. How do you deal with the Grinches in your life this Christmas?
20. How do you deal with Christmas as a joyous family time when family is hard? 
21. What do you know about the Biblical concept of hospitality and how do you apply that during the Christmas season?
22. How do you find spiritual refreshment in the midst of an exhausting season?
23. When do the excesses of Christmas cross the line from communicating the lavishness of God’s love for us to fostering excess, greed and pride?
24. How do you respond to feeling like someone else “does Christmas better” than you?
25. What is the most meaningful Christmas memory you have?