George Whitefield. The name doesn't just spring to mind when one thinks of party people. The man who preached to thousands, chums with the Wesley Brothers (when they weren't disagreeing) wrote that we should celebrated Christmas. We should do so better than any. Our joy should be in our activities and our conversation.
In George's day, as in our own, there would have been those in the Christian community that took a dim view of it all. Every age has had it's Scrooges.
So here from George's faithful pen is the heart of the matter:
"It was love, mere love; it was free love that brought the Lord Jesus Christ into our world.
What, shall we not remember the birth of our Jesus?
Shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite forgotten? Shall that only, which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance be quite forgotten? God forbid!
No, my dear brethren,
let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our hearts;
let the birth of a Redeemer...be always remembered;
may this Savior's love never be forgotten."
George does go on to caution us to simplicity in our giving, in our eating (O dear!), our celebrating. And that we should do.
So, to all those nay-sayers, take a lesson from George, bless him.
May we follow in his footsteps here too.
May our joy be evidenced to all, in all, through all.
Joy! My daily mantra.
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