I Need to be More like Rudolph

I have always loved Christmas. I love that it is a celebration of Jesus' birthday, and I am so thankful for Him- the greatest gift ever given. But, I also love the commercialization of Christmas. Santa at the mall, the hustle and bustle of shoppers, and the glorious twinkling Christmas lights sparkling in the night to make even the most meager dwelling look enchanted. Don't even get me started on elves! Elves were pure brilliance. I listen to Christmas music starting no later than October 1st every year and keep the tunes going until the end of January. Every Christmas Eve, I still listen for reindeer on my roof, and I'm not going to lie, despite all evidence to the contrary, part of me still believes in Santa. As a parent, Christmas has been one of my favorite times of year, and one of my most serious responsibilities. I have to do Christmas right, so that my kids grow up to know and love this holiday for how blessed and magical it is!!

In my effort to do things right, I have been very transparent with my own children about the truth behind Christmas. For example, Taryn and Trevor know that people give each other presents to help celebrate Jesus' birthday. They also have learned that the whole reason that Santa brings the presents is to help us remember that the greatest gift was Jesus. My kids know that God and Santa are BOTH watching them, and that God trumps Santa when it comes to the naughty and nice list. Sure, sometimes I wonder just how difficult this entwined Christmas tapestry is going to be to unravel one day, but for now it all makes perfect sense.

This passion for Christmas is why the sermon on Sunday was so life changing for me. The Pastor talked about a lot of things, but what I got out of it, was that I need to be more like Rudolph. You are probably very familiar with the story of Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer. It doesn't matter if you simply know the song, or watch the clay-mation movie on TV every year like I do; the story is the same. Rudolph was different. Because he had a red light bulb where his nose should be, he was picked on by all of the handsome, super- cool reindeer. When they were all showing off at the reindeer games, poor Rudolph wasn't even allowed to play. I imagine that Rudolph didn't feel too good about himself. Every social experience that he had attempted had ended in failure and rejection. He probably wasn't very excited about trying new things or meeting new people (or reindeer), because what he had learned in his short little reindeer life was to expect to be hurt.

The good news is that the story has a happy ending! Rudolph led Santa's sleigh through the foggy night to help him keep his undefeated Christmas record! I have always thought of Santa as the nice one in the story. He is the one who saw Rudolph's difference as a positive thing, and who loves him, not in spite of how he is different, but BECAUSE of it. Now I realize I was all wrong. It is Rudolph that showed kindness. He is the hero in the story, but not for the obvious reasons. Not because he led the sleigh through the foggy night and triumphantly helped Santa deliver all of the gifts. No, he is the hero because he said, "yes" when Santa asked.

I know what I would have said if I were Rudolph. "Oh, really? You need me now? Where were you when the bullies were teasing me and not letting me play the reindeer games? Where were you when everyone was laughing at me and calling me names? And now, what? You want to use me for my nose? Sorry, Santa. Guess you and Dasher should have thought of that earlier". Saying yes doesn't seem hard; but for me, if I were him, it would have been.

So, now I know that I have a lot to learn from the little misfit reindeer. I need to guard my heart and not get embittered by people. They will be mean, just as I am sometimes mean. They will fail me, and they will never cease to be imperfect, and human. I cannot control any of that, but I can protect my heart from becoming so hard that I can no longer see the opportunities before me. Rudolph had a forgiving heart, and because of that he got to be a part of history. Forgiving and saying yes was all it took for his whole life to change. He was happy to have a chance to help Santa, and the children. He did his absolute best without complaint. He didn't remind Santa that he had been hurt, and that the other reindeer didn't deserve his help after how they had treated him. Instead, he did the job that he, and only he, was equipped to do. I want to do that. I want to be that. To do my best at the job that I, and only I, am equipped to do. I pray for the grace to do that every day in my classroom, in my home, in my friendships, and even walking amongst strangers ...I want to be more like Rudolph.