Don't be a grinch, let others enjoy holidays Published Dec. 15, 2006 By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Tinnon 1st SOW chaplain HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Christmas hasn't been the same for the last few years: Dr. Seuss is gone. But, he left us a wonderful cast of characters to keep us company. These are the characters from whom the Grinch steals Christmas. What a loser the Grinch is! He has no friends, he has no fun, and he hates Christmas. He hates Christmas because it makes people happy. He is indeed a grinch, a grouch and a real humbug. He feels if he has to be miserable everyone else has to be miserable, too. So, he comes up with a fool-proof plan for misery -- he will steal Christmas. As the story unfolds, the Grinch makes his way into each home in Whoville where he removes every present, steal all the goodies and undecorate all the trees. They take it all! Yet, on Christmas morning, when he expects to hear weeping and sadness and all kinds of unhappiness, he hears singing and laughter. His plan didn't work. Though he might have stolen all the presents, he couldn't steal their joy. This makes me think about all of us living and serving here at Hurlburt Field. In a season of light and joy and laughter, it's easy to give in to frustration, to grumble and complain, and to become grinches ourselves. A sour attitude, a hasty word or a careless remark can rob another of the joy of the season, and all the things in the world may not be able to restore that joy.