Christmas stories are the best. Gift of the Magi, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Littlest Angel, A Christmas Carol, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas–the list goes on and on. Oh sure, they tend to be a bit syrupy, but I’m all for happy endings, especially at Christmas.
I’ve gotten into the habit of rereading Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon each Christmas. It’s the story of Father Tim deciding to refurbish a time-worn nativity set for his artistic wife Cynthia. Of course, come Christmas morning it turns out Cynthia has a surprise gift of her own.
It’s a heartfelt, quick read that never fails to put me in the Christmas spirit and make me wish I were more creative when it comes to gift giving. Warm fuzzies, that’s what I’m aiming for when Christmas draws near.
So how about you? What do you read at Christmas? Any traditions you carry on year-to-year?
Meet Sarah
I usually read William Barrett’s “The Left Hand of God”. It’s a wonderful story of God drawing straight with crooked lines!
Recently I’ve added David Bellavia’s “House to House” to the Christmas reading list. It’s a memoir of the battle for Fallujah in 2004, and may seem an odd choice – but it conveys a sense of love and faith that is hard to beat
I wish I could feel the warm fuzzies at Christmas – it drives Barbara a bit crazy that I can’t. For me, it’s a time to reassess the execution of my obligations to God, and to the least of His creation. More a call to arms than a call to celebrate, I’m afraid.