Christmas 2019

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

For over 50 years, A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a part of Christmas Season viewing.  Whereas Charlie Brown is recognized by his zigzag shirt, Linus is most often characterized by his light blue security blanket.  Although the other characters have been trying, for years, to get Linus to give up his blanket, it is to no avail, until the momentous time in the movie where he begins to quote Luke 2:8-14.  As Linus gets to the words, “Fear not” he drops his blanket.

Jason Soroski, a writer and musician in Houston, recounts lessons he thinks Charles Schultz was conveying through Linus’ drop of the security blanket.

* The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.

* The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.

* The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

Soroski continues, “…in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and always still be found.”

After reciting the Christmas Story, even when Linus has experienced true security, he once again picks up his blanket.  The Peanuts gang then begins to sing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the Newborn King.”  It is at the time around the tree that Soroski notes that Linus lays his blanket down “for good at the base of that beautiful Christmas tree, just as we should strive to not just lay our blanket down just anywhere, but leave it forever behind us at the foot of that cross, for our own good and the good of others.”

Like Charlie Brown, Linus, and their friends, once we have read, heard, experienced the story and worshiped, may we respond to God’s truth and infinite love by sharing His love story with others so they can do the same.

Merry Christmas from the Bertrands!

 Mary (7)    Ryen (6)    David (9)

Della (3)    Sawyer (4)    Daniel (4)