Reflections from Rudolph

Rudolph the red nose reindeer was a victim of bullying!

 Do you remember that Red-nose savior of Christmas? Rudolph.

What a story of triumph!

What a story of over coming the odds!

But should we teach this story to our children?

In this story, or song, our main character is bullied. He is called names and is not allowed to play in any reindeer games.

Santa Claus, who apparently, is able to  know the merits of every little child on planet earth, neglects to step in when the misfit Rudolph gets bullied and neglected.

It is only in a dash of desperation that they include Rudolph. It was a foggy Christmas Eve and Santa came and said, "Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you lead our sleigh tonight?"

What if Rudolph declined? No! You picked on me for all these years, I am not helping you! Seems more likely, right?

Instead, Rudolph, not only joins the other reindeer in the journey but is put in the front!

So, am I making too much of this story?

Ya. Probably.


Yet, we need to be careful what we teach our children through story.

As we have arrived in the season of ADVENT, we prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A misfit if you will. He was born in a manger, without a legit father. He was called a bastard child. He grew up in the backwater town of Nazareth. But this underdog (by the world's standard) was no underdog at all. He held the whole world in His hands and allowed Himself to become a baby, who needed a diaper change. But that infant would grow up and die on a cross so we could be saved.

So, Jesus is a little more important than Rudolph. But in their stories they are both the victor, the champion, and the Savior (if you will!)

How should we approach Christmas with our children! Giving gifts right? Maybe.

But what about those who are being bullied? What about those who are being forgotten? What if we teach our children (by modeling it ourselves) to include others in our "Reindeer games"?

What if we use this story to illustrate how the characters could have acted differently? Santa should not have neglected Rudolph all these years and could have used this as a teaching moment to include everyone!

So maybe you need to learn how to include others or......

Maybe you are the outcast. You can identify with Rudolph. No one wants you till they can use you for their own goal. And I'm sorry you feel that way.

But, according to Jesus, you are more valuable than you think.   Your value was determined on the cross. You were (and are) worth dying for.

I don't care if you have a mole, you have a disability, or even have a shinny red nose. God loves you just the way He created you to be.

This Christmas: may you know you are loved by God. May you know that when others treat you unfairly that He is with you and He is for you! But May you also have the courage to stand up for those that are being mistreated. May you look for the treasure in others and this can only come by friendship.

Merry "very early" Christmas!