Now Ebeneezer Scrooge was not big on Christmas but at least he didn’t steal Christmas presents. Come to think of it, Dr Seuss’s Grinch is a fictional character who did steal presents. I don’t know if you have anything like Santas Anonymous where you live. Here in Edmonton one of the local radio stations, hey, let’s name it, why not, CHED630 puts out collection boxes and accepts donations of toys which are then given to kids from families who have trouble affording decent Christmas presents. Volunteers fan out a couple of days before Christmas to deliver them. A couple of days ago I went to the local shopping centre to drop of a donation on behalf of a neighbour. The donation box  wasn’t where it used to be, next to Santa’s Grotto, and when I did find it, it was almost empty. Emptied in fact; a few days earlier it was starting to fill up with toys which were appropriate for various ages and genders. Oh, and there was a loaf of bread. You guessed it, someone had stolen the presents. The Food Bank donation bins will probably be appearing at the shopping centre any day now. Last year folk were helping themselves to the contents of those bins too. Was it Jesus who said God helps those who help themselves? I’m not sure what’s going on at the shopping centre is quite what he meant.