Our 8-year-old son had a secret.

And it was almost too much for him to bear.

His older brother's birthday was very near, and we had already purchased A Grand Gift. Picture a time before iPods...back in the day of The Boombox. A Boombox was a radio with large built-in speakers, and it was packaged inside of a giant box. And our older son was to receive this wonder for his 13th birthday. Covered in wrapping paper, it loomed large, and smacked of dreams come true. The rest of us, including our 8-year-old, whispered excitedly about it for days leading up to The Big Day. When that day arrived, we had to wait through long hours of school and homework before finally, it was time for cake and presents. Our 8-year-old squirmed with anticipation. Now? Now?? "Yes, son—now. Would you like to go get that last present?" Would he ever! He shot out of the living room and returned in a flash, balancing the immense box on his outstretched arms.
The rest seemed to happen in slow motion: the birthday son turned to see the gift, he and his younger brother made eye contact. Valiantly trying to last until the handoff, but to no avail, unstoppable words gushed out of the little guy's mouth: "It's not a radio!" he shouted.

And there it was. Good news too good to keep inside.

The prophet Isaiah could hardly contain himself either. "Gospel" means "Good News!" And it's this Good News—of God's saving and redeeming his people through the gift of his Son—that must be shared; no, shouted! Look at Isaiah: he is like an 8-year-old, quivering with news that he knows will change his hearers' lives forever. He "pushes" the messenger up onto the mountain where he can be seen and heard by all. He urges, "Lift up your voice! SHOUT! C'mon—make it loud and clear! We can't hold it in any longer: Here is your God!"

Best of all, this Gift keeps giving. God offers His Son to us, today. Don't miss it. Don't dismiss it. This amazing, unearned and undeserved gift of new life in Christ is ours for the taking. Open it!

~Carol Kenyon and Annie Neufeld