It's A Boy!

“It’s a Boy!”

Many-a-father has walked out of a delivery room and made that grand announcement, “It’s a Boy!” Personally, I’ve been equally elated to announce twice—with the delight that only a new father can display—“It’s a girl!” There’s nothing quite like that announcement of a newborn baby.

And listen, there’s an unmistakable message in those few words, “It’s a Boy!” No one thinks, “Oh, he must have lost his job”…or “They must have bought a new car”…or “The stock market must be up today.” No! Everyone knows what those words mean—a baby’s been born! It’s clearly identifiable…it’s obvious…it’s unmistakable!

This time of year, you’ll hear people throwing around lots of phrases: Merry Christmas, Merry X-mas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Season’s Greetings…and some folk argue endlessly about what the right words are. Personally, I’m not that offended when somebody says, “Happy Holidays” to me…I can still wish them whatever I want to. (And by the way, don’t ruin your witness as a believer by being rude to a sales clerk who’s just trying to do her job…and trying to keep her job by obeying her employer’s rules.)

We get all tangled up in terminology, sometimes so passionately that we lose sight of what it’s really all about. That’s why I’ll give you a good way to stay on task today and every Christmas season. Try this on for size…the next time someone wishes you “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” or even “Merry Christmas,” respond with “It’s a Boy!” and see what happens…it forces us to remember the heart of the Christmas message!

The angel told Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31).That name, by the way, is significant because it literally means, “Jehovah saves.”

We so easily and nonchalantly wish one another “Merry Christmas”—and that’s fine—but are we really grasping the excitement and enthusiasm of Christ’s birth when we do? “It’s a Boy!” reminds us that a baby’s been born in Bethlehem, and He is the Savior for the whole world. That's what this day should be all about!