The Grinch Remixed

Pastor Ryan Binkley 

4 minute read

It’s hard to find anyone in the English-speaking world who hasn’t heard Dr. Suess’ The Grinch that Stole Christmas. While in this past weekend’s sermon, I was able to borrow from both Scripture and the Christmas classic, I’ll be much limited in blog form due to the wonderful Copyright Code of the United States. For those smart ones reading this who immediately thought, “When does The Grinch enter public domain?” you’ll have to wait patiently till 2053.

But lucky for us, there’s a loophole. Enter “Parody.”

I present to you, The Grinch Remix:

The Grinch was scared.

He remembered the Christmas when there were no cards, no gifts, and no tree.

For him it was the worst day of the year, and Whoville was the worst place to be.

 

The Whos were singing:

Fah Who Foraze, Dah Who Doraze,

Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day.

 

For the Grinch this song was horrible, something to fear.

This was the song they all sang, year after year,

 

But we must know the original story, and it must be clear.

To the Grinch, the most painful thing was hearing everyone sing and everyone cheer. He didn’t know how he could he endure all of this year after year.

 

The Grinch knew that alone by himself Christmas he could not end.

Even the Grinch knew he would need the help of a friend.

 

Even though the Grinch was mean and nasty in those days,

We see that his heart was being softened in the smallest of ways.

 

The puppy eyes of his animals were working on him already,

But he was determined to stop Christmas, and in his goal he stayed steady.

 

In his mind, if he stopped Christmas, he didn’t have to hear them sing.

Then and only then would this stop the pain and ease the sting.

But first he had to train his helpers how to stay strong in their deeds.

 It wouldn’t be easy, but he’d force his team to follow his cold-hearted lead.

 

It was as though the Grinch needed to train his helpers to have hard hearts like him.

They had to be focused and resist temptations all around if they were going to win.

 

One thing that I see is that the Grinch’s pain began when he was small.

It’s like he thought if he couldn’t feel joy, then no one should at all.

 

Our own pains come in all forms; they are vast and many.

Yet they all share this one truth – they don’t come from God but from the enemy.

 

Amid all his dastardly plans, the Grinch met a little girl, tiny and small.

It’s from this meeting, that he began to learn one of the greatest lessons of all.

 

What we see in this clip is that love of the little girl is the greatest to tell.

She doesn’t wasn’t toys or gifts; she just wants her mother well.

 

The Grinch’s heart was softened by the hug he received that day.

He was baffled when he left, not knowing what to say.

 

Love is patient, heartwarming, and kind.

Love softens hearts. It has changed yours, and it has changed mine.

 

“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT

 

When we share love like little Cindy Lou,

It will change me, and it will change you.

 

Love is what counts the most, as the Grinch would soon see.

Because love lasts forever unlike toys under a tree.

 

This Christmas for Whoville started off in a horrible way.

All the trees were gone. There were no gifts that day.

 

Cindy Lou Whos Mom said it best, and what she said was true.

“I have love in my heart, and my greatest gift is you.”

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 ESV

 

This last scene is short but something really special.

The Grinch was back home, but if he stayed there, he’d settle.

 

Cindy Lou knocked on his door and brought him good news,

But as we see, it was still his to choose.

 

The look in his eyes said enough, as he stood tall.

He wasn’t going to be alone this Christmas, not alone at all.

 

The good news for you is the same as for me,

We have the Lord, each other, and our family.

 

Never forget Jesus and this wonderful day,

Let’s listen to Isaiah, he said it this way:

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.”

Isaiah 9:6 NIV