My three all-time favorite Christmas specials were on this week, although I was only able to watch two of them: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” For the record, my other favorite is “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” but I was busy the night that one was on.

These Christmas classics always take me back to my childhood, which is one of the reasons I like them so much. But they also have timeless and important messages, which is another reason I enjoy them. When Rudolph’s experiences help everyone realize how wrong and hurtful it is to ostracize and ridicule others just because they are different, when the Grinch realizes the spirit of Christmas isn’t all wrapped up – no pun intended – in presents and Christmas decorations, and when Linus cuts through all the commercialism and quotes scripture to explain the true story and meaning of Christmas, my heart melts all over again, no matter how many times I’ve watched these shows. And I’ve watched them enough times that I can recite most of the lines and sing along with every one of the songs.

There’s also an innocence and simplicity to these programs that is absent from most shows today, even in children’s programming. They demonstrate qualities like integrity, friendship, and compassion. They show the importance of being true to our word, and true to ourselves. And they are beautiful examples of peace on earth and good will to all.

That’s probably the main reason I love these shows so much. It’s why I hope they’ll continue to be shown year after year during the Christmas season. And it’s why I’ll keep watching them.

December 6, 2019
©Betty Liedtke, 2019

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