True story. I used a stuffed Grinch for the tree topper on the first Christmas tree that my husband and I had. Yes, I am rather a Grinch, but why should that be a bad thing?

I’ve got 5 reasons for you that will explain why . . .It’s Actually Good to Be a Grinch!

He is completely against noisy Christmas gifts.

Every parent reading this knows exactly what I’m talking about! The toys that the kids play with the most are inevitably the ones that make the loudest/most annoying noise. The Grinch feels your pain!

He takes the minimalist approach to decorations.

Sure, the house down the street that’s covered with 83,295 twinkle lights looks cool, but do you really want to remove all of those staples after Christmas is over? What goes up, must come down. Those Whos in Whoville should be thanking him for helping them take down all of those decorations.

He has serious improvisational skills.

Who else could cobble together a Santa suit in an afternoon? Not to mention giving his dog Max a reindeer makeover. The Grinch can work with what he’s got to get the job done! That’s the kind of ingenuity and flexibility that will get you through the holiday season.

He finds something to enjoy about Christmas.

By the end of the book, the Grinch has a change of heart. Despite his grinchyness, he finds something about celebrating Christmas that makes him smile. (Pretty sure he’s still against the noisy toys, though.) I may be a Grinch, but I still participate in a few traditions that are fun.

He really gets it.

The Grinch is puzzled because, “It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” When the Grinch thought that Christmas was all about the presents, the food, and the decorations, he hated it. I don’t blame him! But then, Christmas came anyway, and finally, FINALLY, he gets it! Who could say it better than this: “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!” That’s when he stops hating Christmas. When he realizes that Christmas is so much more.

It’s okay to be grinchy about all of the superficial trappings that surround Christmas today, because none of that is Christmas. It’s fine to enjoy some of those things, but when that becomes what Christmas is all about, it becomes empty.

Christmas does mean more. Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus being born. That’s enough to make even the grinchiest of Grinches celebrate.