Advent Day 8: Fezziwig’s Joy

(Theme: Peace — “The Gift of Generosity”)

In A Christmas Carol, one of the most heartwarming scenes comes when the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to revisit his apprenticeship under the kindly Mr. Fezziwig. Dickens paints the moment vividly — the cheerful bustle of a Christmas Eve party, laughter filling the room, fiddlers tuning up, and the humble office transformed into a ballroom. “Yo ho, my boys!” cries Fezziwig. “No more work tonight! Christmas Eve, Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer!” The joy of Fezziwig’s heart spilled over into every corner of his world.

Scrooge, watching the memory unfold, begins to soften. He realizes what made Fezziwig great was not his wealth but his spirit. Dickens writes, “The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” That single line captures a profound truth: generosity is not measured by the size of the gift, but by the size of the heart that gives it.

In the Gospel of Luke, the angels announce, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14). Fezziwig embodies that goodwill — a man whose joyful spirit mirrors the generosity of God Himself. The peace of Christ is not the absence of conflict but the presence of grace and gladness in community. When we give from the abundance of love, we reflect the very heart of God, who “did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32)

During Advent, we are invited to recover that same spirit — the kind of joy that throws open the doors, turns work into celebration, and blesses others simply because we can. In Scrooge’s remembrance of Fezziwig, the first flicker of transformation appears. His heart, long cold and closed, begins to warm again under the memory of joyful generosity. That is the miracle of grace: it awakens us to what matters most.

As you light the Advent candle of Peace, consider where you might bring joy to others this season. A kind word, a generous gesture, or a cheerful spirit may be the spark that reminds someone else of God’s goodness. True peace often begins in the glow of shared joy.

“The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” — Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” — Luke 2:14
“God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7