The Gospel of Grinch

Last night our family went to see the new animated adaptation of The Grinch because, if I'm honest, we'll go see anything with Benedict Cumberbatch. We also love Dr. Suess, but I'm often leery of film adaptations of children's stories. It drives me crazy when screen writers try to extend a sweet little story into a feature-length film by writing all sorts extra plot elements or adding their own philosophical or political agenda. So while one part of me was excited to see The Grinch, another part was a little cautious. 

You see, The Grinch is an especially meaningful story for our family. As a self-confessed book addict, one of my first priorities upon becoming a mother was to build a stellar library for each of my children. Naturally, Dr. Seuss books were some of my first purchases. When our daughter was three, she became particularly enamored with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and we read it frequently. One night before bed, she observed that the Grinch was mean when his heart was small but became kind when his heart grew. We asked her why she thought that was. Her conclusion was that Jesus must have made his heart big so he could love people. Suddenly, she made a connection. "Can Jesus make my heart big?" she asked. She wanted so much for Jesus to change her heart, so we prayed with her and she asked Jesus to make his home in her heart. We were pretty amazed that all of this had come from reading a Dr. Seuss story. Two years later, we were astounded when our son (without our prompting) made the exact same connection. Seriously, there is something about that story!

So it made for a special evening to go and see The Grinch movie with our daughter and son who are now 19 and 17. The animation was a feast for the eyes and provided all the Christmas feels. There were many humorous moments, and we enjoyed the soundtrack as well. However, what really made me love this film was the way in which the screen writers expounded upon the original story in a way that felt organic and authentic. No gratuitous agenda, no ridiculous flights of fancy. (Well, except for what we would expect from Dr. Seuss.) They simply fleshed out the Grinch in a way that made him, well, human. Why was he bitter and spiteful? His heart was wounded. Why did he hate Christmas? It stems from his childhood, but in short, he was lonely. 

We all know people who carry heart wounds that make them less than fun to be around, but a little kindness can go a long way toward healing a wounded heart. Are there people you've noticed on the fringes who maybe just want to be included, to feel welcome? Who are the people in your life that struggle with abandonment or loneliness? How should we respond when someone hurts us or our loved ones? This film invites us to ask those questions. It challenges us to open our hearts to those we don't understand, to ask how well we are really loving our neighbor. In its own way, The Grinch is a wonderful illustration of the Gospel. 

I'll confess, by the end of the film, I couldn't hold back the tears -- and I don't think I was alone. The Grinch strikes a chord at a time like this. We could all do with a little more empathy; a little less 'us' versus 'them'. Concluding that 'kindness and love' are 'the things we need most,' I kind of wanted to jump up and yell Amen! And what a great way to start a conversation with your child about kindness. Plus, it's a whole lot of fun!