Cindy Lou Who?- Devotion 208

One of my favorite characters is in Dr Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. What a beloved story for so many. It is, of course, the Grinch that most captures my attention. I have one in my yard thanks to a good friend. I have one that rides in the car with me during the Christmas season. He’s fun and he embodies my attitude sometimes. It doesn’t take Christmas to have a “grinchy” attitude. Some days are just like that. Everything seems to take us down and we come back with an attitude which is anything but kind and loving.

We may miss the key character in this beloved story, though. While the Grinch gets more airtime than most anyone else, he isn’t the key (at least not in my humble opinion). He does represent the nastiness some of us feel. But for me, the key to it all is found in the little girl, Cindy Lou Who. She doesn’t notice what everyone else notices about the Grinch. She doesn’t see the mean one. She doesn’t seem to understand how everyone else is so afraid of him and despises him. Cindy Lou has a childlike view of the Grinch. She sees potential and possibilities. She is the one that helps him see how life can be different. Cindy Lou wasn’t willing to take the view others would have given her. She sees something good. Cindy Lou changes everything.

We all need a Cindy Lou in our lives. We need someone who sees the good in us and reminds us of it. We need those faithful friends who love us despite ourselves. Our Cindy Lou can come in many different shapes and sizes. It could be our spouse, our family member, our best friend, a coworker, or even a faithful companion like Leo. Remember the Grinch did have Max.

Whenever I am having a “grinchy” day with a “grinchy” attitude, I am grateful for Cindy Lou in my life (and I have more than one, thankfully). I am grateful to be spurred on to goodness, to kindness and to love. And I can only hope to be the Cindy Lou for someone else. May we see the good in one another and inspire each other to love.

May you have a non-grinchy day. And may your day be filled with a Cindy Lou Who.

Focus Scripture:

Hebrews 10:23-24

²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds