No one is perfect- we know this, but there are ways to better your chances to stay on the big red man’s good side. What I have to offer is a story about a group of teenagers that teaches a lesson about the holiday season. If you need to reserve yourself a spot on the nice list, listen up. Gather round kiddos, young and old, to hear a tale old as time.
Our story begins with 4 students: AJ, CJ, JJ, and Doug. AJ was supposed to make dinner for his mom and brother on Monday night, but chose to play Simpsons Fortnite and say he ‘lost track of time’. AJ’s mom (Sara) walked in through the front door, granting the opportunity for a few adventurous flakes of snow to find their way to the empty dinner table. Leaving a flurry of holiday snowflakes, but entering a fury from teenage mistakes, Sara was turning red. AJ climbed out of bed and let his moms yelling bounce right off his head. “Christmas will be here in less than two weeks,” thought AJ, “I’m on the naughty list for stepping on snails, saying curse words and pulling dog tails. It’s too late for me to try to be good anyways.”
The next morning, AJ walked into his homeroom class. His friends CJ and JJ were sitting straight in their chairs. “AJ we heard we still have time, the big red man upstairs is really so kind.” AJ said it was a load of “Bull, I’ve done what I want, anyways presents don’t compare to 12 months of fun.” CJ and JJ wanted their gifts, and despite the fact that when it’s not holiday season they aren’t good kids-they kick ant piles, yell at their parents and litter for laughs, they chose to be kind, wholehearted people, just for 2 weeks, it was worth it to see a some presents under their trees.
In the front of class sat Doug. Doug doesn’t believe in lists. Doug likes to bake and paint and do what’s right all of the time. Doug goes home and plays with his cats, does his homework on time and hugs his dad. In just a few weeks it’ll be the 25th, but for Doug everything he needs is already here.
Now flash forward 2 weeks, it’s Christmas day. Let’s assume AJ never changed his ways, CJ and JJ locked in for the month, and Doug was himself, like always. Could you guess who got presents under their trees and who got coal in their stockings? The truth is, all 4 students got presents, some more than others, but that doesn’t matter. In the end, lists aren’t real, it’s all in your head. However, what is real is the way you’re remembered- all year long, not just in December.
