Changing Hearts
"And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of*ten Grinches, plus two!"
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
EAT This
Make this recipe together
Portuguese Kale Soup
Original Recipe from Tia Maria and portuguesediner.com
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Yield: Serves 6-8
Time: 35-45 minutes
Description: warm and hearty soup for winter months
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In a large soup pot, cook onions and garlic in the olive oil until translucent for a few minutes.
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Add the chouriço, potatoes, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the water and broth and bring to a boil. Add the cabbage, beans, tomatoes, and bring to a second boil.
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Cover, reduce heat to medium low and continue cooking, stirring once in a while until the potatoes are tender for about 20-30 minutes.
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Taste, add water if needed to make a thinner broth and cook longer if you desire. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top if desired before serving.
Note: Substitute with any green leaf cabbage or red kidney beans with any type of beans for different variations.
Ingredients:
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3 medium potatoes (peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes)
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4 cups chicken broth or (4 cups water and 1 chicken bouillon cube)
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2 cups water or more
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3–4 cups kale or collard greens (chopped)
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3 tablespoons olive oil
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1 large onion (chopped)
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2 cloves garlic (chopped)
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1 bay leaf
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1 (32 oz.) can red kidney beans
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1 teaspoon salt
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½ tsp pepper
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Olive oil for garnish
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1 16 oz. can roma (or any ripe) tomatoes (chopped)
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1/2 small chouriço or linguica sausage (cut into pieces)
PRAY This
Pray this prayer together
1. Light your Advent wreath for the appropriate week
For information on Advent wreaths and a wreath blessing, click here.
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2. Share something you would each like to pray for
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3. Read Matthew 22:36-40
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“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
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Then together pray:
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O my God, help us to love you above all things because you are all good and worthy of all my love. And help me to love our neighbor as ourselves, so we can help others come to know You.
Amen.
WATCH This
Watch this movie together
As you eat your soup, watch the film:
Dr Seuss' The Grinch (2018).
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Available at: Amazon ; Netflix
Movie Run Time: 1 hr 25 min
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Description:
Living atop Mt. Crumpit and choosing only his dog Max for company, the delightfully wicked Grinch was born with a heart two sizes too small. His disdain for his neighbors down in Whoville is magnified every Christmas season when he is forced to endure their enthusiasm for togetherness, generosity and, worst of all, joy. But after 53 years of lonely and miserable holidays, the Grinch finally has a plan to make this season bearable: He’s going to steal Christmas!
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Yet, Cindy-Lou is an energetic, hopeful, young Who with a firm belief in the spirit of Christmas. Looking for a way to show her loving, overworked single mother just how much she admires her, Cindy-Lou decides that this is the year she will finally meet Santa Claus so she can ask him to help. With the assistance of her best friends, a foolproof plan, and her relentless persistence, Cindy-Lou sets out on her biggest adventure yet - to trap Santa! Watch as their two worlds collide.
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DISCUSS This
Share together as a family
After watching the movie, use any of the following questions to share as a family.
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1. Why was the Grinch hated other people?
2. Have you ever been left out? What could someone have done to include you?
3. Why did Cindy Lou want to help her mom?
4. How important was it that Cindy Lou and her family still invited the Grinch for dinner?
5. How can we love others, like Jesus asked us to, even when it is hard?
6. How can we help other people know Jesus' love this Christmas?