Going to see “A Christmas Carol” at Memphis Theater has become a holiday tradition for my granddaughter and me. This year was our third performance of watching Scrooge transform from a lonely, miserly, miserable human being to a loving, kind, and very generous man.

As I was watching the play this year, it dawned on me for the first time that what Scrooge was missing in his life, or maybe once had but lost, was love. Genuine, lasting love. The kind of love we find in Christ. The kind of love that God our Father showers on us. The kind of love that can’t be taken away. The kind of love that makes us want to shout with joy, jump with happiness, and share with overflowing generosity. Poor Scrooge missed this kind of love most of his life, but when he found it at the end of the play he made up for lost time! So, if anyone calls you a “Scrooge,” just say, “Thank you, and Merry Christmas!”

In the words of Scrooge and Tiny Tim, “God bless us! Yes, God bless us everyone!”

This year we took a children’s copy of “A Christmas Carol” and had “Scrooge” sign it.

I think she’s trying to figure out if that’s her uncle or if he’s really Scrooge.

My granddaughter knew the story this year by heart and was telling me what was going to happen next. Last year she was scared of the Marley’s ghost for several days after the play. I had to hide the book too. She wanted to read it, but was scared at the same time! (Doesn’t the macabre do that with all of us? It does me. I’m drawn to a scary movie, all the while knowing that I’m going to be scared.)

It’s nice to have a connections when it comes to getting photos taken with some of the cast members.
Thank you Great-uncle Mark for another wonderful performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, Esq.