Today we continue our Holiday Season Extravaganza.  Between now and December 25, we will share what it means to celebrate the holidays — Life in Pencil style.

Posted by Anne

Before

Change.  It’s a core topic here at Life in Pencil. And it just so happens that we’re not the only ones interested in transformation these days.  Change, you see, is also a favorite subject of the holiday season.  Take a look at the evidence, and you’ll see the power of change—it’s everywhere.

Ebeneezer Scrooge: Mean miser becomes charitable and kind…and wears his pajamas in the London streets

The Grinch: Grouchy green creature becomes a softy…and experiences some freaky heart growth

George Bailey: Mr. cranky-pants becomes an appreciative daddy once again…and makes an angel named Clarence very happy

Tim Allen in the Santa Clause: Smart-ass/shoddy father becomes Santa/superdad…and eats a lot of cookies

Frosty the Snowman: Pile of snow becomes human…and takes kiddos on a parade

After

As a culture, we eat these stories up.  After all, most of us are suckers for a good tale of redemption.  And within these stories in particular, there’s something inherently dramatic about the changes our heroes experience.  For one thing, the changes are fast. Scrooge and the Grinch make it happen in just one night.  On top of that, the changes are thorough and complete.  When these guys change, the changes are big. And in every case, change is for the good…mean people become good, greedy people become generous.  (Well, except in Frosty’s case…I imagine he was a nice pile of snow to begin with.)

We (or I?) love these stories because they represent something that’s supposed to happen to us during the holiday season…we’re supposed to become better. Kinder.  And more loving.  And in general, I’ve got nothing against a culturally prescribed season of kindness.  But the sweeping drama of Scrooge and George Bailey?  How realistic are these transformative tales?

I’m sad to say… not very.  I don’t know about you, but in my life, change doesn’t usually come about with the aid of physically visible supernatural spirits.  And when I change, it’s darn hard—I struggle and slip, and make oodles of mistakes.  Yet, when we leave Ebenezer having goose with the Cratchits, we’re left to believe he’ll never feel greed or anger again.  When the Grinch serves up the roast beast, we’re supposed to understand that his heart-growth is permanent.  According to the rules of holiday myth, relapse isn’t part of the story.  And honestly, I’m glad it isn’t.

But the truth is, change is rarely magical.  We try to be better people all the time, and especially during a “season of giving”.  But we stumble.  We complain about annoying relatives, and make uncharitable comments.  And often there’s no ghost to get us moving again.  Just as often as the drama, changes occur in baby steps, small acts of generosity, and faith.  And there’s beauty in the small changes, as well as the big.

Do you try to change over the holidays?  And what holiday tales of redemption did I leave out?