This story has been told and retold in so many different ways in movies and written words.
Charles Dickens really did create a timeless tale when he wrote the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the lessons he learned on that fateful night.
When visiting Christmas past dear old Ebenezer comes face to face with the person he use to be and with the kindness that was shown to him by others.
I think Dickens was trying to show that people can take others and their kindness for granted and that we all need to work on appreciating what we have and who we have in our lives.
When visiting Christmas present Ebenezer sees the hardships that others have to endure through no fault of their own.
He also sees the love and friendship he is missing out on and could have in his lonely life.
Here I think Dickens is trying to show us that we are all missing out on some really wonderful experiences that could be our if only we would let others into our lives also incredible opportunities to offer service and help to those we have around us.
The visits to the past and the present were strong enough to make him feel a bit remorseful or somewhat guilty but neither were enough to make a significant change in him until it actually affected him or his well being.
Ebenezer's visit to the future is creepy, scary and sad.
He sees Tiny Tim's demise along with his own and ends up begging for the chance to change things.
In his words, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.
" Dickens summed up his story with, "Scrooge was better than his word.
He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.
He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.
" This is one of my favorite Christmas stories.
It has something for everyone young or not so young and if we all spend some time pondering the lessons Ebenezer Scrooge learned we can have the most magnificent Christmas ever! Charles Dickens left this note about his story, "I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me.
May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
" Merry Christmas every year, all year...