The village of Who knew just what to do when the Up-mountain Grinch was aroused. They set up the things (decorated trees and blings) that they knew he could steal to satisfy all of his unhappiness things.
They understood that all he needed was time to learn of the good things in life. Like holding hands in a circle. Like singing for the joy as they're able. Like preparing to welcome The Grinch to their table.
So they carefully slept in their beds, knowing what he was doing. They felt sadness for him, but also hope. One year, they thought, might bring him to kindness, not mope.
And they sang the next morning, lacking the trees and the blings, hoping that this year would be the year that changed his 3x too-small heart to new things. It had never happened before, but they were the people of "HOPE", and Hope springs eternal.
One year, two living creatures entered into The Grinch's 3x too-small heart. The first was Max. Poor Max (the "min") struggled to do what The Grinch said to do. Maxs are all about that.
The other was Cindy Lou Who, a Who who had a special gift. The gift of "acceptance". She accepted that The Grinch needed to take her tree. She did not have to understand "why". She was a Who, not a Why.
So The Grinch did his grinchy thing and took all the trees and gifts. Even the Who-Pudding. How could they enjoy The Day without the pudding, he thinked.
But up on his mountain of cold snowy sadness, he began to hear singing and joy and some gladness; what madness he thought of their song. He pondered and thought, and he thought and he pondered. "What is it with them that they lack the understanding of their loss".
Here is where Max comes in. The Grinch looked at Max, whose tail was a-wagging. He thought "why is Max happy"? And while The Grinch was mean, he wasn't stupid. An answer floated upwards from his bile to his brain.
"He likes me" he realized, "in spite of my spite". And "He just wants to do what I think is right". And "I think it is right to deprive the Whos of their joy. Is Max right and I am wrong? And the Max-tail wagged in joy.
And then he recalled Cindy Lou Who. The little Who who woke from sleep and asked The Grinch some questions and went back to bed just trusting to keep the Day.
So The Grinch sat up there pondered, and pondereing and sat, considering how the World must be for Cindy and Max.
And he suddenly realized the Who's joy wasn't about the trees, the bling, or pudding. It was their happiness of holding Who-hands and being by each other.
Hearing the happy Who-songs while thinking of Max and Cindy Lou changed his understanding that day. It wasn't the Things, it was the Happiest Day.
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You know the rest. The Grinch got Max to help him down to Whoville, he tossed presents around, and was accepted into Whoville.
Hurray! 3 sizes too small a heart became enough larger.
Cheers to Dr Seuss... May he forever rest in Whoville, with Horton hearing him, running a circus with Yertle and The Cat In The Hat, and so many others We are amazed at all the places he went! And we went with him. He took us down the roads of our dreams...
