Lords, Ladies, Commoners and Guests,
I am honored to be here to call you 'my friends', and on such a cheerful occasion that my heart rejoices at the site. A few meager years ago that was not the case, as I'm sure your memories can attest. Life then found me spiteful, cruel, ruthless and without compassion. My sour disposition was only out matched by my greed for things of this world. Little did I know that for every hurtful act committed that added to the weight of my purse, I weighed down my soul with sin.
How did I escape circumstances so dire when unknown to me I sunk deeper in the mire. You dear Friends have heard tell of my tale. Some of you find it amusing, others outlandish that three spirits, four if you include my deceased partner Jacob Marley, visited me on Christmas Eve. But hear me out when I say, there was another spirit there, whose influence was most instrumental in reversing my evil temperament and through whose help the transformation was made permanent. Before I reveal to you the identity of this mysterious personage, first let me bring to the forefront of your minds the messages brought by the others.
The Ghost of Christmas Past shared with me the importance of remembrance and wisdom that comes only from experience. This little spirit represented the child like innocence and trust in God that we ought to seek in this life. He showed me where I had ignored inborn promptings and veered to a more sinister lifestyle. But we mortals are not simply a product of our past, condemned to walk a certain path because of foolish mistakes.
The Ghost of Christmas Present taught me that as we are surrounded by the splendor this season brings it is easy to get caught up in the material and forget the reason we celebrate. At the same time, when January rolls around returning us to the mundane routine of life, daily observance of Christ like mercy and charity is regrettably forgotten. His jovial nature served as a reminder that we always have the choice, today, right at this instant, to change the direction of our life's course. We have the opportunity to savor the moment amidst the brilliance of God's magnificent gifts.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come pointed to the inevitability of life's cessation. I realized, in death, when it comes time to meet my maker what good is the jingle of coin in my pocket if the entangling chains of sin prevent me from living with Him - through eternity. His grim presence served to give me a perspective on not only this life, but that which is to come. Looking out at eternal consequences for mortal behavior urged my penitence, naturally followed by the desire to treat my fellow man with the respect, mercy and love that all God's creations deserve.
So have you guessed who my other visitor was, who softened my soul? The Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost accompanied me in my vision and without His help surely my stubborn nature would have me fall back into old patterns. But unlike the others whom I have yet to see since that fateful eve, the Holy Ghost stayed with me, so long as I lived worthy, as a consistent reminder that through repentance and change of heart I could be rid of past offenses. This is the true source of my joy during not only this festive time but each moment since then to the present day. For when the decorations are gone, my friends returned home and the celebrations have passed, the True spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, can live on in our hearts.
Character developed by Charles Dickens Adapted by callas-and-ivy
I am honored to be here to call you 'my friends', and on such a cheerful occasion that my heart rejoices at the site. A few meager years ago that was not the case, as I'm sure your memories can attest. Life then found me spiteful, cruel, ruthless and without compassion. My sour disposition was only out matched by my greed for things of this world. Little did I know that for every hurtful act committed that added to the weight of my purse, I weighed down my soul with sin.
How did I escape circumstances so dire when unknown to me I sunk deeper in the mire. You dear Friends have heard tell of my tale. Some of you find it amusing, others outlandish that three spirits, four if you include my deceased partner Jacob Marley, visited me on Christmas Eve. But hear me out when I say, there was another spirit there, whose influence was most instrumental in reversing my evil temperament and through whose help the transformation was made permanent. Before I reveal to you the identity of this mysterious personage, first let me bring to the forefront of your minds the messages brought by the others.
The Ghost of Christmas Past shared with me the importance of remembrance and wisdom that comes only from experience. This little spirit represented the child like innocence and trust in God that we ought to seek in this life. He showed me where I had ignored inborn promptings and veered to a more sinister lifestyle. But we mortals are not simply a product of our past, condemned to walk a certain path because of foolish mistakes.
The Ghost of Christmas Present taught me that as we are surrounded by the splendor this season brings it is easy to get caught up in the material and forget the reason we celebrate. At the same time, when January rolls around returning us to the mundane routine of life, daily observance of Christ like mercy and charity is regrettably forgotten. His jovial nature served as a reminder that we always have the choice, today, right at this instant, to change the direction of our life's course. We have the opportunity to savor the moment amidst the brilliance of God's magnificent gifts.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come pointed to the inevitability of life's cessation. I realized, in death, when it comes time to meet my maker what good is the jingle of coin in my pocket if the entangling chains of sin prevent me from living with Him - through eternity. His grim presence served to give me a perspective on not only this life, but that which is to come. Looking out at eternal consequences for mortal behavior urged my penitence, naturally followed by the desire to treat my fellow man with the respect, mercy and love that all God's creations deserve.
So have you guessed who my other visitor was, who softened my soul? The Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost accompanied me in my vision and without His help surely my stubborn nature would have me fall back into old patterns. But unlike the others whom I have yet to see since that fateful eve, the Holy Ghost stayed with me, so long as I lived worthy, as a consistent reminder that through repentance and change of heart I could be rid of past offenses. This is the true source of my joy during not only this festive time but each moment since then to the present day. For when the decorations are gone, my friends returned home and the celebrations have passed, the True spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, can live on in our hearts.
Character developed by Charles Dickens Adapted by callas-and-ivy