The Daily Gouge

It’s Friday, December 24th, 2021…and here’s our traditional Christmas edition of The Gouge, marking a joyous celebration of love and sacrifice which is for all people.

First, for any Charlie Browns out there, this truly is…

…what Christmas is all about!

So this December 25th, recall what finally dawned on the Grinch as he observed all the Whos down in Whoville celebrating Christmas despite all their gifts, decorations and food having been stolen:

“…And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Then consider the true import of Christmas as noted by John in his Gospel…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

…and Paul in his letter to the Phillipians:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Here’s the juice: Christmas is all about the child whose birth Isaiah foretold…

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”

…the one and only Son of God.

And though Christ indeed is the reason for the season, we are the reason He humbled Himself by taking on human form in obedience to God the Father, obedience which ultimately led to the cross.  Borrowing from words written millennia apart by King David and Charles Wesley respectively, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” and “Amazing love; how can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?” 

We’ll conclude by offering two versions of our favorite song proclaiming the Savior’s birth…

…and offer our heartfelt wishes for a VERY merry and blessed Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous 2022 from our home to yours!

Magoo