His name was Fred. That’s all the book tells us but the movie adaptation tells us that the name is Fred Holywell. He is better known as the nephew of Ebenezar Scrooge, a name instantly associated with a grouchy, miserly, miserable old man.
“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
“Bah!” said Scrooge. “Humbug!”
He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.
“Christmas a humbug, uncle?” said Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean that, I am sure!”
“I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.”
“Come, then,” returned the nephew gaily. “What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.”
Scrooge, having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, “Bah!” again; and followed it up with “Humbug!”1
Some people are infected with Scrooge-itis year-round! They live with a Bah Humbug attitude, walking through life in misery and determined to spread it like the plague. Others, like Fred, act as if nothing can get them down. While I know that Scrooge and Fred are mere fictional characters, they teach a very real, non-fictional truth.
Right attitudes come from the heart, not the wallet.
Philippians 2:1-8 says, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
The attitude of Christ begins with us having a relationship with God through Christ. Once we do, we are able to have the mind of Christ ruling our lives in everything. It’s a matter of the child of God determining to let nothing have control of our hearts and attitudes except for Jesus.
Christians with sour dispositions are broadcasting hearts out of tune with the Lord. Even in the worst, most agonizing moments of Jesus’ life, His attitude was always right and holy. He cared for others till the end. One of the last things Jesus said as He looked on those who had crucified Him was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24) Based on this and other things Jesus said from the cross, I have to believe that even in the midst of his agony, the countenance of His face radiated love and compassion.
Let’s do an attitude check today. On a scale of Scrooge to Fred, where do we fall most days? Better yet, where do we fall with Jesus as our uppermost standard?
Jesus said in John 13:15, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
1https://www.open-bks.com/library/classics/dickens_charles_carol/carol-5-6.html
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