The Spirit of Giving
Posted by Robyn Lee in Reviews on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 4:00 PM
I just finished reviewing the Christmas special, “Yes, Virginia” which will be airing on CBS Friday, Dec. 11 at 8:00 pm (ET/PT). (Record it on your DVR and screen it first to find out if it is appropriate for your family).
I suspected the little detail of Christ’s birth would be avoided on prime time (and I was right). No mention of baby Jesus in a Christmas special is not only disappointing, but reason enough to skip it.
At the end of the screener, however, I had a smile on my face. I was touched by the warmth of the message. And I think it is because I like to find the hidden elements of truth and insert the message of Christ (even in a politically correct Christmas cartoon).
The story is about 8-year old Virginia O’Hanlon who writes to The New York Sun newspaper to ask the editor if Santa Claus is real.
I remember struggling with that same question when I was young. “Mom, why didn’t Santa eat the cookies I put out for him?” My mom answered that Santa isn’t a real person, but the Spirit of Giving. It is funny the way kids interpret things because I visualized this beam of light (shaped like the star of Bethlehem) that came down the chimney and placed the presents under the tree. As a kid, I was just focused on the goods, but the Spirit of Giving is more than just presents under a tree.
In Virginia’s search for facts about Santa, she learns that being kind to others and helping someone in need makes Santa real. Later, when Virginia gives a coat to someone out in the cold he answers, “today you are Santa Claus.” Finally, the editor of The Sun writes that Santa exists as love and generosity. In this Christmas special Santa is being described as the spirit of giving.
As Christians, it is easy for us to see the elements of truth, even in a Christmas cartoon, but we also know that the spirit of giving goes beyond being a good person.
Christians are not called to be good; we are called to follow the example of Christ and be saints.
So, how do you incorporate Christ into your Christmas giving?
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