Over the holiday weekend I managed to catch about five minutes of A Christmas Carol on TV. It wasn’t the classic movie starring Reginald Owen or even the 50s favorite starring Alastair Sim. And it wasn’t the new Jim Carey animation. Instead it was the 1999 made-for-TV video starring Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Anyway, I have read the book numerous times and watched the movies even more often. But this time, I heard something that I do not ever recall hearing before. It was a rather simple line spoken by Scrooge himself, quoting his old boss – Fezziwig:

“Ebenezer, when happiness shows up, always give it a comfortable seat.”

As we wrap up 2009 and finalize our plans for 2010, I wish this sentiment for all of you: When happiness shows up, always give it a comfortable seat.

As Scrooge suggests, “you have to be open to joy. If you are, it’s yours! If you aren’t, it won’t be found anywhere.”

God bless us, every one.