Fred . . . Joy Refuses Bitterness
“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!”
(Fred, A Christmas Carol, Stave 1)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
(Philippians 4:4)
Advent Day 15 — Fred: Joy Refuses Bitterness
(Theme: Joy is a choice to love, even when rejected)
Fred, Scrooge’s cheerful nephew, stands as one of Dickens’ brightest lights of unshakable joy. Early in A Christmas Carol, Fred bursts into his uncle’s gloomy counting-house with a warm smile and heartfelt greeting:
“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!”
Scrooge’s reply, of course, is the infamous “Bah! Humbug!” Yet Fred’s joy doesn’t dim. Instead of retreating into offense, he responds with good humor and compassion:
“I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I’ll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, uncle!”
Fred’s joy is not circumstantial; it’s chosen. It’s rooted in something deeper than comfort or approval. Fred embodies the joy of one who has decided to love even when love is not returned.
Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:4—“Rejoice in the Lord always”—echoes this kind of joy. It’s not naïve happiness or surface cheer; it’s a deep confidence in God’s goodness. Fred models that joy when he refuses to let Scrooge’s bitterness infect him. Instead, his joy becomes a quiet witness, a lamp in the darkness.
When we choose joy, we declare that cynicism and bitterness will not rule us. We testify that love is stronger than rejection, and grace more powerful than grief.
This Advent, as you reflect on Fred’s steadfast warmth, ask yourself: where do I need to choose joy over resentment? Who in my life needs an invitation, even if they’ve turned me away before? Joy doesn’t deny pain—it redeems it.
Today, pause to listen to selections from the Advent Playlist—songs that capture the stubborn brightness of Christian joy, such as “Joy to the World” and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice.” Let them lift your heart heavenward. Then, spend a moment with today’s curated artwork—an image of Fred’s Christmas gathering, full of laughter, light, and open arms. May it remind you that joy multiplies when it is shared.
Prayer
Lord of Joy,
Teach me to rejoice in You always, not because life is easy, but because You are good. Keep my heart from bitterness and my spirit from despair. Help me, like Fred, to offer love where I’ve met indifference, and warmth where I’ve found coldness. Let my laughter be a witness, my kindness a song, and my joy a light that points others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Artwork: “Scrooge Objects to Christmas”
Artist: Harry Furniss
Medium: Etching
Date: 1910
Published in: The Charles Dickens Library, 18 volumes
Artistic Analysis
Composition & Gesture
The scene is structured around contrast and interruption. Scrooge is seated, hunched over his desk, absorbed in his work, while Fred enters from the left, mid-stride.
Characterization
Scrooge’s body language is closed and defensive. His bent back, lowered head, and intense focus on the ledger suggest obsession, weariness, and emotional withdrawal. The desk becomes both a literal and symbolic barrier—representing his devotion to money and control. In contrast, Fred stands upright and mobile, holding his hat casually, suggesting openness, warmth, and social ease. His posture implies movement, life, and relational engagement, qualities Scrooge lacks at this stage of the story.
Line & Texture
Furniss’ dense cross-hatching gives the image a heavy, somber atmosphere. The darkness clusters around Scrooge’s figure and desk, reinforcing the theme of spiritual darkness and confinement. Fred’s figure, though also rendered with dark lines, feels less visually anchored, as if he belongs to a freer, less oppressive world.
Setting & Symbolism
The sparse interior—bare walls, minimal furnishings—mirrors Scrooge’s emotional barrenness. There is no warmth or decoration, reinforcing the absence of joy, community, or festivity. The act of writing, frozen in time, emphasizes Scrooge’s fixation on productivity over relationship.
Thematic Reading
This illustration visually dramatizes one of Dickens’s central tensions: relationship versus isolation, grace versus self-absorption. Fred’s touch is an embodied appeal—an offer of connection and mercy—while Scrooge’s posture shows resistance. The image anticipates the larger arc of redemption, showing that before transformation can occur, Scrooge must first be confronted by love he neither seeks nor understands.
Overall, the image is less about action and more about moral interruption—a moment where compassion literally reaches out to a man imprisoned by his own values.
Playlist Daily Highlight
We’ve provided multiple versions of this classic Christmas carol. Listen to your favorite style, but also try something new!
See if you find a new appreciation for this song or a different version than what you’re used to.
Take the time to listen . . . really listen to the words of this song and reflect on them. Let God speak to you in this moment.