THURSDAY THOUGHTS - May Our Hearts Be Softened

Guest Poster, Kathy Christensen (Thanks so much to Kathy for continually giving us wonderful Thursday Thoughts!)...

Because the Christmas season is upon us, I treated myself to reading a wonderful book entitled “Jacob T. Marley” by R. William Bennett. Written in much the same style as Dickens” “Scrooge,” it chronicles the early life of Marley (before he became acquainted with Ebeneezer Scrooge.) As you recall, “Scrooge” begins seven years after Marley dies on the night his ghost visits Scrooge while dragging the heavy chains he is wont to carry due to the selfish choices he made in his life. Until this new book was written, little was known about Jacob Marley and events which sealed his awful fate.

Ironically enough, Jacob Marley’s childhood was a pleasant one. His father, Joseph, provided a middle class home by working hard for his family. He was honest in his dealings, served others and counted his blessings each and every day. Despite his father’s good example, however, Jacob chose a different path. William writes, "Business was his gospel, the contract his God….and he allowed no room for the spirit of the law, only the letter.”

As the story unfolds, it tells how Scrooge and Marley met and became business partners for many years. As Marley looks back at his life, he is riddled with guilt because he realizes that over the years, he had encouraged Scrooge’s greed and helped to fashion his selfish character. He wants desperately to have the spirits help him give Scrooge one last chance to change his ways.
The story is carefully woven together and definitely worth the time it takes to read it. Without ruining the book for all of you, I wish to close by quoting the last paragraph which, in my opinion, clearly states the theme of the book most effectively: ”And to this day when we find ourselves in the right place at the right time to assist a poor wayfarer on the path of life, a moment’s pause may recall the story of good old Scrooge and good old Marley, and our hearts may be softened, we may stop to listen, and we may even offer a hand of kindness to the one who just happens, by some circumstance, to cross our way.”

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts