In one of the best Peanuts cartoons, Snoopy is sitting in the doorway of his dog house shivering violently during a winter storm.

You can see that it is near Christmas time by the decorations on the dog house. Charlie Brown and Lucy are walking by – all bundled up and warm as toast.

They offer a greeting, “Be of good cheer, Snoopy,” Charlie Brown says. “Yes, be of good cheer,” Lucy replies. And they keep on walking as Snoopy sits there with chattering teeth.

The message of the cartoon is powerful. The most noxious lifestyle of all is when compassionate words come from a care-less heart. Snoopy would no doubt prefer a blanket over a greeting. A compassionate heart is a reflection of the heart of Jesus which is filled with compassion.

My Commentary:

This Peanuts cartoon exposes a hard truth: warm words are hollow when they are not matched by loving action. Charlie Brown and Lucy speak kindly, even piously, yet walk on while Snoopy shivers. Their greeting costs them nothing.

Snoopy’s need is concrete, immediate, and ignored. The cartoon reminds us how easy it is to substitute sentiment for sacrifice, cheer for compassion.

True compassion looks like Jesus. He did not merely offer comforting words to the cold, the hungry, or the suffering. He stopped. He touched. He fed. He healed.

 A blanket placed over Snoopy’s back would have spoken louder than any seasonal greeting.

Especially at Christmas, faith is measured not by what we say, but by what we do for those trembling at our doorstep.

When was the last time YOUR compassionate words turned into compassionate actions?

LOVE IS GOD’S LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES NO SPOKEN WORDS!!