My favorite story of the season is Dicken's “A Christmas Carol.” But, I have always doubted the ending, that Scrooge really kept “Christmas in his heart” every day of the year. Like many I have done the Sunday School visits to the sick or elderly and the “less fortunate” at Christmas, but never beyond that. Many years after first hearing that story, I actually met someone who really does keep “Christmas in his heart” every day of the year.

My mother-in-law now resides at Palms Shade Villa, an assisted care facility here in Newton County. Alone now, after more than 50 years of happy marriage, her world has gradually become more and more limited. Her room and a couple of common areas are the warp and woof of her existence.

Her time at Palm Shade Villa is brightened by the regular appearance of Allen Fuller and his mother Cleo. Allen faithfully plays the organ for an hour every week, rain or shine. The evening performance ends with the singing of a number of traditional hymns. Allen doesn't have a relative at the facility nor does he get paid for his performances. I don't think the singing is what keeps him coming back every week. Everyone there enjoys themselves but we are unlikely to be offered a recording contract.

I mention Allen to point out that maybe I have been wrong all these years ago to assume that “A Christmas Carol” is just a story. Maybe Dicken's was right, maybe it isn't ever too late. Not too late to transform our lives from concerns about ourselves and ours to concern for others. Not too late to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long. I know it is possible, for I have met someone who does and have shaken his hand.

My mother had a saying that most of you will recognize, “...there but for the grace of God go I.” I heard it most often after we had encountered someone with an “afflicted” child or that was suffering from some sort of physical disability. I think it was recognition we should not take too much credit for our health, general station in life, our families and their fortunes. Things could just as easily be other than as they are.

But it means more than that. We didn't choose our parents, their occupations, our teachers, whether we were tall or short, fat or thin, pretty or less so, whether we were smart or “differently gifted.” We don't even choose our nationality or the religion we will grow up believing. I think we can teach personal responsibility and effort to our youth and others without the arrogance of the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” crowd. It is easy to look back and say how by our hard work look at where we are today.

Faith in hard work should not cause me to feel superior to others, who may have worked just as hard ut with less success. Such a superior attitude presumes that I rather than the Deity has really been in charge of how my life has developed.

We should teach the young the values of hard work, education, reliability, etc. But also to be generous and kind in assisting those whose lives have been touched with less grace than their own. Treating the less fortunate with meanness and a miserly attitude, reflects poorly on the unmerited gift of grace on ourselves.