1 Corinthians 13:4-5 — Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

If you listen closely, you can almost hear it—the soft chime of sleigh bells drifting across time. Before Rudolph ever blinked his bright red nose on television screens, there was a man who needed a bit of light himself.

It was the winter of 1939 in Chicago. Outside, carolers sang, department store windows were dressed with tinsel, and a million hopes were hung on the idea that this Christmas would feel different.

Inside Montgomery Ward, Robert L. May sat at his cluttered desk, staring at the falling snow. His wife was ill, and his daughter, little Barbara, watched him fight to stay cheerful.

When his boss asked him to write a holiday storybook for the store’s giveaway, he sighed.

What story could he possibly tell?

But that’s the funny thing about Christmas—it tends to show up right when you’ve nearly given up on it.

He thought about what it meant to be different, to stand out in a world that doesn’t quite understand you. And then, like a snowflake landing on his sleeve, an idea appeared—a reindeer with a glowing red nose.

He wrote late into the nights, describing that little reindeer who was laughed at, left out, and yet chosen to lead the sleigh through the darkest storm. He didn’t know it yet, but he was writing about himself—and maybe about all of us who have ever felt like we didn’t quite fit.

When his daughter heard it, she clapped her hands and said, “Daddy, that’s wonderful!” That year, Montgomery Ward printed more than two million copies. Families read the story aloud by the fire, and children’s laughter mingled with the crackle of the radio.

Fast forward twenty-five years: Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass brought the tale to life on television with stop-motion “Animagic.” In a little studio in Tokyo, animators moved tiny puppets, one frame at a time, for months.

Rudolph’s nose glowed for real. The Island of Misfit Toys, the Bumble, even Hermey the elf who wanted to be a dentist—all reminded us that God’s kingdom values those who feel different, overlooked, or broken. Every misfit is loved and has a place in His plan.

And isn’t that exactly what we read in scripture? Love walks with the lost, lifts the lonely, and turns what others call weakness into light.

So, this Christmas, maybe you can be a little like Rudolph.

Notice the person others pass by, struggling. Speak a word of kindness, offer a seat at the table, or shine your light for someone walking through the dark. Love has a way of glowing brightest when the world is dim. It has a way of guiding people home.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 teaches us “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

That’s the kind of love Rudolph’s story reflects—not flashy or self-seeking, but patient, kind, and willing to shine for someone else’s sake.

And most importantly, love is what keeps Christmas shining all year long.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

• When have you felt like a “misfit” or overlooked—and how did someone’s kindness make a difference?
• Which part of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 do you find most challenging right now: patience, kindness, or not insisting on your own way?
• Who in your life might need you to notice them more intentionally this season?
• What does it look like for you to “shine your light” in a simple, everyday way?
• How could choosing love—over convenience or comfort—help guide someone else toward hope?