A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 22c
Topic: The Chlorhydris Files III - How The Chlorhydris Stole Christmas
Series: Smurfs
Episode: Baby's First Christmas
Lesson PDF link: 22c.pdf
Introduction
We are discussing Christmas again - See lesson 15 for the previous lesson on this subject.
However, this one is much different. This one isn't about Jesus's birth, but it is about giving (Chlorhydris's weakest suit - she doesn't even have this suit). On this lesson I did some Internet research on St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) to show in this lesson that he (in his real life) was a giver not a taker. I contrast St. Nicholas's life here on earth with Chlorhydris in the Smurfs cartoon special "Baby's First Christmas". Chlorhydris is quite the parasite (taking and never giving anything good back). Chlorhydris tries to corrupt Mr. Nicholas to turn him into a hurtful and hateful man; she is related to the Grinch, but she doesn't repent like he did in the special that is beloved by many folks.
Gargamel isn't any better as we analyze his attitude of believing he is a good man too. Of course, Gargamel isn't a generous or giving man in the slightest. We relate him to our main villain Chlorhydris.
Scriptures Used Include: I John 4: 7-8, 16; Proverbs 14: 21, 31; Matthew 6: 1-4; Proverbs 18: 1; Galatians 5: 16-26; James 3: 13-18; Psalms 13
Remember The Bible Point: First of all, as always with this lesson series, I will ask you this question.
Do you remember our Bible Point for this group of lessons? It is I John 4: 7-8, 16.
This part of the lesson is a Christmas theme with a Smurfs twist. We are going to see hypothetically what would happen if Chlorhydris lived in the 3rd or 4th century AD. The episode we are looking at is called Baby's First Christmas. This episode deals with a man named Mr. Nicholas whom we know of today as Santa Claus. But first, we will talk about a little history.
According to some information I found, Mr. (St.) Nicholas was a very good man and a devout Christian man and was from an affluent and wealthy family. He is said to be kind to everyone, giving things to many needy people. Stories about him, for example, include one about St. Nicholas giving three bags of gold to the daughters of a man so they wouldn't go into a life of prostitution. This one got skewed however and the three bags of gold got turned into three balls of gold and was made into the symbol of the pawnbrokers (the part about the skewed story is not necessarily a part of the lesson, it is just a tasty bit of information). We are focusing only on the spirit of giving portrayed by this man and the Smurfs twist, our villain of study, Chlorhydris.
Bible Study I: Before we get to Chlorhydris, let us look at Mr. (St.) Nicholas. Please read Proverbs 14: 21, 31 and Matthew 6: 1-4.
When you think of Santa Claus what does this mean to you? Do you think St. Nicholas is worthy of the legend? We will now move on to Chlorhydris.
Cartoon Show: Smurfs: "Baby's First Christmas":
What do you think of Chlorhydris's plan? Let's read some Bible passages that will starkly compare and contrast with our villain. Please read Proverbs 18: 1, Galatians 5: 16-26, James 3: 13-18. What do you see in these passages pertaining to our villain? Now, there is another villain at work, who is Gargamel. Do you see that these scriptures will fit him too even though we are just studying Chlorhydris? The scriptures also work for the characters of Eric and his mother. Do you see this? The mom wants her son to have a great Christmas with all the trimmings, but is too poor to offer it. Eric doesn't want all the trimmings; he selflessly wants just his mother back to full strength. We see that Chlorhydris gives Mr. Nicholas a gift. Do you remember what it is? Yes, it is called the Kiss Of Hate. Why is this a selfish and very evil gift? Why is Gargamel's wish also selfish and evil? There is a symbol embedded here. When Chlorhydris used the Kiss Of Hate on Mr. Nicholas, there was a chilly cold wind out of nowhere. This symbolizes the evil in Chlorhydris's heart. She seemingly looks over her shoulder and runs away.
Why? Is it possible that she didn't want to be seen in her evil deed and tried to hide? If this is true, it's already too late, because God already knows; however Chlorhydris probably wasn't thinking about that. Regardless of the consequences, would you help Mr. Nicholas, even if he got mad at you under this wicked Kiss Of Hate spell? Notice the positive side of the scriptures if you reverse the "do not" part of them or the "selfish" part of them. The Smurfs, Eric, and his mother are all being selfless. This helps to provide one of the next points.
In the meantime, a little before Chlorhydris's lines we see Gargamel fully expecting his selfish wish for some reason to come true. He says that he deserves a reward for being good (full knowing that he hasn't been). On top of this he calls Mr. Nicholas an old fool (obviously he thinks that he can play Mr. Nicholas for a sucker). Now, notice the glee in Chlorhydris's heart as she falls asleep, thinking she has won (at this moment, she seems to be winning). What she says is the epitome of selfishness. She states: "I say a holiday is what you make of it and I've made this holiday just the way I like it - no comfort, no joy, no SPIRIT OF GIVING!! (Laughs) All in all, this is going to be the merriest Christmas I ever had!!" As we travel through the episode a little further Chlorhydris says: (Laughs) "This will be the best Christmas ever, because it will be the worst Christmas ever!!" (Laughs harder) "Ahhh, there's a little boy with a sick mother living in that house!! Ooh, I can't pass this up!! Reeves, stop here. I'm sure the little twit has been crying his eyes out ever since he got up this morning and found nothing in his Christmas stocking but lint!!" (Laughs) "Ooh, how I LOVE TO HATE!!!" (Laughs real hard this time). What do you think of our villain here? Aren't you glad she had to say: "Huh? Curses, somehow Mr. Nicholas must have broken my spell?"
However, she doesn't quit because she vows revenge. Again, this is selfishness to its utmost. Why do you suppose Azrael got a present and Gargamel didn't?
What broke the Kiss Of Hate spell? How is this a God thing? In other words, how does this pertain to our Bible point, which is God Is Love? Yes, God worked all right. God worked through Eric and Baby Smurf. They were so full of love that they were able to help break this Christmas curse. Baby Smurf symbolizes God's miracles. If we look at Psalms 13, we see a prayer of praise and plea for deliverance. This is the prayer a person prays when seeking a miracle.
Ps 13:1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
Ps 13:2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Ps 13:3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
Ps 13:4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Ps 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Ps 13:6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Let's say that our good guys prayed this prayer for the Kiss Of Hate to be broken. Do you see why God would honor a prayer like this one? Why then? I know in my heart that God will do his best to protect a servant like Mr. Nicholas from such a wicked curse. See, if such a plan succeeded, many people would be denied the Spirit Of Giving of a man with such an outreach and it would be turned to hatred. Not only would people be having empty stockings for Christmas, but many people would go hungry and without much to hope for if they in that time were in an impoverished area and needed aid. Mr. Nicholas, furthermore, could use all of that money in his wealthy estate to commit countless deeds of destruction and ruination. Chlorhydris's plan failed because of a miracle. In real life Mr. Nicholas truly fulfilled our scripture about giving to the needy and according (again) to www.answers.com, has been given the title "The Miracle Worker". To God be the glory for the miracles that he gave Mr. Nicholas to do. Has God provided a miracle in your life? How can you provide the message that God Is Love and is the God of miracles in the near future?