ScrewTape Christmas

This Christmas, I was looking for something to read.  A friend suggested I read a CS Lewis classic, "The Screwtape letters."  

The book contains thirty-one letters from Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood, who is screwtape's underling in fiendishness. Screwtape is an upper-level "devil" in the complex bureaucracy of the underworld. The "Screwtape Letters" are friendly advice from this elder "devil" to a front-line tempter on how to take the soul of his "patient", a young Christian man just trying to live out his everyday life.

The third letter was most appropriate for this season.  Wormwood was told to help his client focus on the imperfection of his family members, specifically his mother.  So that when his mother raised her eyebrows as she had a habit of doing, the client would then think that his mother was upset at him or thinking evil of him.  Here is the most interesting part, it does not have to be true!  The client just needs to think it.

Now I know for some of you, getting together with your extended family during the holiday season can be most stressful (not for me but for you :) )  We will have opportunity to see our loved ones at their best and worst.  What I want to encourage you to do is to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Instead of thinking evil about them, think good about them.  Instead of the raised eyebrow being something negative, make it a positive or a neutral. 

Only you have control of this one.  No one can make you think anything except what you want to think.  Remember Philippians 4:8...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Think great thoughts!  It is a great gift to give to your family and yourself.

May the joy of Christ be yours this Christmas season!