At this time of year, we always see lots of new Christmas adverts. I like to listen to and watch them, to see if I can pick holes in them! This year the Morrisons one has been my favourite, one of the reasons I like it is because it is funny, the oven gloves are singing around the Christmas dinner.
But the main reason I like it is because of the song they use! As many of you will know and I’m telling you now (if you didn’t know!) I love musicals. The song they are singing is from Bugsy Malone which is a musical made with children playing the roles with adults singing over the top. The film tells the story of the rise of “Bugsy Malone” and the battle for power between “Fat Sam” and “Dandy Dan”.
Set in New York City, it is a gangster movie spoof, with machine guns that fire whipped cream instead of bullets. The film is based loosely on events in New York and Chicago during the Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of real-life gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran.
My favourite is the final scene in the film when the “baddies” become “goodies” and they all start to be friends. This is the song they use for the Morrisons advert.
“You could have been anything that you wanted to be
And it’s not too late to change.
I’d be delighted to give it some thought.
Maybe you’ll agree we really ought 2-3-4
We could have been anything that we wanted to be.
Yes, that decision was ours,
It’s been decided,
We’re weaker divided,
Let friendship double up our powers.
We could have been anything that we wanted to be,
And I’m not saying we should,
But if we try it we’d learn to abide it.
We could be the best at being good guys.
Flowers on the earth.
Who can even guess how much,
A real friend is worth?
Good guys shake an open hand,
Maybe we’ll be trusting,
If we try to understand,
No doubt about it,
It must be worth while.
Good friends to tend to make you smile,
You give a little love and it all comes back to you.
It reminded me of how God changes us to be the “good guys”. He helps us, makes us change to help others and be friends for everyone.
It especially reminds me of this time of year, the amount of times that we strive to buy the best present for someone, how much people want to spend a lot on someone.
For years now I never spend a specific amount on someone, I spend the time looking for a thoughtful present for someone, for example I always get friends a meal voucher and an offer to babysit so they can go out!
There are many ways you can help each other this time of year, there are many charities that we can give to, to give someone a meal, just a little something to help someone else!
Let us pray, Lord God we know that this time isn’t easy for all, but if we all give a little love to someone else, then we will all be happier. Amen