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 Admittedly there are two different kinds of good
cheer. The one that first comes to many adult minds takes the form
of alcoholic beverages. This is often well received, but it is not
the subject of this recommendation and often fails to have the same
result.
The second kind of "Good Cheer" is the kind of thing that can make
the world a better, more beautiful place, and it will lift all
boats, including yours. It is often spread with a cheerful attitude,
cheerful words, and a smiling face, and it is one of the greatest
gifts we can give.
As life often swallows us up, we become the victim of its cruelty,
losing the spirit and losing the joy. If good cheer is the greatest
gift we can give, how can we summon it back that we too might give
it?
Consider the case of the Grinch (a Dr. Seuss character).
Seuss wrote "The Grinch who stole Christmas" because he felt that
the character of the Grinch was commonplace in our society and the
critical, unappreciative spirit of the Grinch was alive in all of us
(at times).
The Grinch looked down on the town below with a jaundiced eye,
despising everyone he saw, and he desired to sabotage the joy that
they felt. This sense of covetousness came about because his heart
was much too small. And so, since he could not experience joy, he
decided that nobody should experience it.
Well, you know the story... he raced down the mountain to steal all
their Christmas, which he determined was the source of their joy.
After taking all the gifts, the decorations and the feast, he
discovered that the source of joy was not in the stuff but in their
hearts.
Seeing Cindy Lou Who, his heart grew three times the size, and good
cheer infected even the Grinch! Once infected, the Grinch's
character was transformed, and he too gave good cheer instead of
trying to take it away.
Youtube video
- Cindy Lou Who
Consider the case of Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens' "A Christmas
Carol."
Scrooge was a defeated man who had lost all meaning for life and all
value for people. His only value was money. There was no joy, no
cheer, no happiness in Scrooge, and all he could spread was
"Humbug!"
Everyone who came in contact with him was robbed of their joy,
robbed of their dignity, robbed of their cheer, and demoted to
valuelessness.
Three supernatural visitations confronted Scrooge, and showed him
the results of his behavior and choices: Tiny Tim would die.
Sometimes before a heart can be healed, it has to be re-broken, and
the pieces come back together to form a beating, living whole.
Scrooge was transformed from a man who hated life and hated people
to a whole man who once again loved life and mankind. He even
replaced "Humbug" with these good words, "Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good night!"
Youtube video
- Ebenezer Scrooge the morning after the three ghosts
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Finally, consider the case of George Bailey in Frank
Capra's "It's a wonderful life."
George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) was known in his youth as a young man
who was indeed going places: plenty of ambition, plenty of
intelligence, and plenty of dreams. But as is the case with many of
us, George Bailey's life was detoured by reality and he was forced
to settle for difficulty, mediocrity, and all that he felt was less
than what he had dreamed of. After numerous challenges and turns
against him, George lost all sense of good cheer, was cross with his
wife and children, and finally sought to even kill himself.
Saved by the supernatural (an angel named Clarence),
George was shown what the world would be like if he had never been
born, life without the good that he was known to spread. George
Bailey, convinced, was now grateful for his life, ran to the bridge,
and begged for his life back. The supernatural granted his prayer,
and returned to his former life, the whole community came out to
resolve all of George Bailey's dilemmas.
George Bailey gained back his life, and his cheer, and even
considered himself the richest man in town. For George, giving good
cheer gave greatly to the community, and realized, the community
gave back greatly to George Bailey.
Youtube video
- George Bailey, the richest man in town
Although these three are stories of fiction, the premise is true.
People are truly blessed by our gifts of good cheer. Their
countenance changes, their hardships fade to the background, and
they too begin to be harbingers of good cheer. We are blessed to be
a blessing. And when we bless with good cheer, we too, will be the
"richest person in town."
Youtube video
- Pentatonix "Carol of the bells"
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