A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

 

A Charlie Brown Christmas

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" ~ Charlie Brown, a Charlie Brown Christmas

Have you ever felt like nothing you do is right?  You might be trying so hard and no one sees it, or even slows down enough to acknowledge your efforts, or worse yet, criticizes you? 

I just got done watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with my grandkids (and I may or may not have watched it once more without them).  Made in 1965, this is the same movie I saw when I was growing up.    If you haven't watched it lately, you should.  

Of course as a child I didn't really see that Charlie Brown has some really deep, thought-provoking questions about how people are celebrating Christmas and, while his intentions are good, no one sees it.  And he gets depressed.  I can certainly relate to that, can't you?

 So, in a beautiful joyous season where he sees all the festivities, he still is sad inside.  Nobody sends him Christmas cards, nobody likes him, no one listens to him as he shares his sadness, he gets tired of the commercialism that surrounds Christmas, the desire for gifts, the distractions, the group mentality.   He doesn't see where the true joy is. 

He feels let down, and surprisingly his 'psychologist' Lucy wisely suggests getting involved, after she can't diagnose him with any other phobias like ailurophobia (fear of cats), bathmophobia (fear of staircases), thalassophobia (fear of the ocean), gephyrophobia (fear of crossing bridges), hypengyophobia (fear of responsibility) or pantophobia (fear of everything).    

 However, he makes himself more vulnerable by getting involved with others.  And these others don't really have a handle on what Christmas is all about.  They criticize him for not accepting what's trendy.  But his good friend Linus knows exactly what it's about- 

Luke 2:8-14

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men."

Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerritt van Honthorst 1622

 His friend Linus is deeply rooted in his faith, not allowing others to take his joy from him.  (We all need to find or be that friend!)  As he shares, it encourages Charlie Brown, who tries to decorate his forlorn tree that he got because he says, "I think it needs me".  But that, too, didn't turn out well.  

Finally, his friends, recognizing their mean treatment towards him, really try to make it right.  With their efforts poured into the tree decor, it ends up looking beautiful.  And they have restored friendship with Charlie Brown.

 So what to learn from this classic?  There's always going to be those who don't understand what Christmas really is all about.  But if we know who Jesus is and why He allowed Himself to take human form, being born in a lowly manger, revealing Himself first to what the world considered lowly shepherds, then we can participate in the festivities like Linus, extending love to others as we do it.  

 And maybe that love isn't always returned.  But we don't have to look to others for our worth, our validity - because God's word tells us how valuable we are to Him.  We are engraved on the palms of God's hands (Isa 49:16), we are precious in His eyes (Isa 43:4), He rejoices over us with gladness and exults over us with loud singing (Zeph 3:17).  Jesus came specifically for the lonely, broken, feeling separated from God, and discouraged.  

Because of this, it's always a season to build others up, to make an ugly tree feel pretty, to reach out and be kind.  We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

 Go out and be someone's Linus.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for this season, because it shows how magnificent Your ways are, how much higher Your thoughts are than ours, and how endless Your love is for us.  Let the hurting world see this, use us to show them, and fill us with Your Spirit to do it.  Thank You for the way You sent Your precious Son, for the way You value us, even when we don't return that sentiment.  Pull us in closer to You Lord.  Amen.