How The Grinch Stole Easter

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE EASTER!

Every Who down in Who-ville

Liked Easter a lot...

But the Grinch,

Who lived just North of Who-ville

Did Not!

The Grinch hated Easter, the whole Lenten Season,

And if you’ll be patient, I’ll tell you the reason.

It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.

It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.

But that wasn’t the reason he loathed with such might.

The Grinch hated Easter, alone in his cave,

‘Cause his heart was as dead and as dark as the grave.

So he stood there, on Good Friday, and he pictured the scene,

Of Easter in Who-ville and all it would mean.

They would rise with “He’s Risen” on each pair of Who lips,

And they’d dress for church services and after church trips.

“They’re rehearsing cantatas and pageants and prayers,

They are ironing their clothes and they’re curling their hair.”

Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,

“I MUST find some way to stop Easter from coming!”

For on Easter he knew, all the Who boys and girls,

Would have much more to think of than fashions and curls.

They would think of their Savior, and all girls and boys,

Would open their Who mouths and make joyful noise.

And that’s one thing he hated, the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise!

Then the Whos, young and old, would fold hands and bow heads,

While prayers of thanksgiving and worship were said.

Then they’d sing about Jesus, how He died, how He lives,

Then some windbag would talk on the hope that He gives.

And then they’d do something he liked least of all,

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,

Would stand close together, with Easter bells ringing,

They’d hold hands in a circle, and they’d pass Easter Greetings!

“Go under His mercy”, they’d say to their brother,

“The Lord bless and keep you”, they’d say to each other.

And the thought galled the Grinch from his hat to his shoelace,

And a frown seemed to darken each part of his Grinch-face.

“Why, for 53 years I’ve put up with it now!

I must stop this Easter from coming .....But how?”

Then he got an idea? And awful idea!

The Grinch got a Wonderful, Awful Idea!

“I know just what to do,” the Grinch said with a hoot,

And he made a quick pair of Bunny ears and a suit.

And he chuckled and clucked, “What a great Grinchy trick!

With these ears and this suit I can steal Easter...slick!”

He died baskets pink and he filled them with grass,

Then he set one aside for each Who-lad and Who-lass.

Then he went to the Wal Mart, charged his card to the max,

Spending thousands on chocolates, not counting the tax.

Then he bought fancy bonnets and gaudy bow ties,

And he grinned as he pictured Who giggles and sighs.

“This will keep them from praying and singing those songs,

This will please and distract them for all the day long.”

Then he loaded the goodies and baskets and clothes,

The bonnets and dresses and ties that make bows,

And he packed his Suburban till it threatened to pop,

And he grinned as he mumbled, “This Easter must stop!”

Then long after midnight, with each Who in his bed

While thoughts of Sweet Jesus filled every Who head,

The Grinch left for each as they finished their nap,

A sweet basket of candy, a distraction, a trap.

He smiled his Grinch smile as he tiptoed away,

And he pictured the mess he would cause the next day.

He pictured the Whos rising and finding their stash,

And forgetting about Jesus in less than a flash.

They would fight over chocolates, over bonnets and toys,

They’d forget about praying and making glad noise.

“We can’t get them dressed” would shout Who dads and moms,

“They’re covered with chocolate from their nose to their thumbs.

From their heart to their heads they’re absorbed with themselves,

We’ll have to put Easter and such on the shelves!”

The Grinch hardly slept as he waited the dawn,

He could not stop imagining the row that would come.

“Pooh-pooh to the Whos” he was grinch-ish-ly humming,

“They are finding out now that no Easter is coming.

They are just waking up. I know just how they’ll be!

Their mouths will hang open a minute or three

Then the Whos will all shout, “Easter’s all about ME!”

And they’ll forget the Carpenter of Old Galilee.

The Grinch cocked his head, put his hand to his ear,

“That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply must hear!”

And he did hear a noise rising over the meadow,

It started in low, and it started to grow.

But the sound wasn’t selfish or angry or sad,