Elmo Saves
Christmas.
It's a Sesame Street
Christmas special that aired this week on PBS, starring the muppet
character, Elmo.
I don't know how
many of you know the story. In the beginning of the show, Elmo
saves Santa, who is stuck in the chimney.
By doing that, he
saves Christmas for everyone.
So Santa gives him a
magic snow globe and allows him to make a wish. Elmo wishes that
Christmas could come every day of the year.
The rest of the show
is sort of like Dickens' Christmas Carol. One of the reindeer
takes him around and shows him what it's like when Christmas comes
every day. By the end of the year, people are hoarse from singing
Christmas Carols every day. The stores are being sold because
they haven't been open for a year. And the people -- or monsters
-- who went to visit family are missed by those who didn't get to
go anywhere for Christmas.
So Elmo asks to make
another wish . . . this time he wishes that Christmas would come
only one time a year, so it would be special when it came.
And so Elmo saves
Christmas again.
Here we are a few
days after Christmas, and most of us are glad it's over. There
are still undelivered presents to get to, but we're not in the
mood anymore. Most of the wrapping paper is spilling out of
recycling bins and garbage cans. And it won't be long before all
the lights and trees will be down, too.
And yet, we all find
ourselves wishing with Elmo that Christmas would last more than
just one day. We enjoyed singing songs. We enjoyed giving
gifts. We enjoyed gathering together with friends and family.
I know I enjoyed
reading the cards I received from friends I haven't talked to in
several years.
Without Christmas, I
know we would lose track of friends we've made over the years.
Even if I didn't have time to write my own notes in their
Christmas cards this year, it's nice to keep in contact, and
Christmas gives us the excuse to do so.
And we when we look
back, we realize it really was a good Christmas. In some ways,
it's too bad it's over. [continue]
