Hey Grannie Gals! Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your Thanksgiving was great, and that you have had your extra helping of football as well as pumpkin pie! Also hoping you were able to get your “grands” to leave the TV off and put all those “devices” away so you had a little time to read some good books to them. Aren’t they the best?
Now, with rallied courage, we are moving on to Christmas, with just as many unhealthy food options. Right? However, we are not going to think about that! We are going to think about the astonishing choice of books for this time of year. One of my friends uses her Christmas books as an advent calendar. She wraps up 24 Christmas books and puts them in a basket. On the first of December, the kiddos (taking turns) pick a book, which they then read together. This continues each night until Christmas Eve! Might be fun to survey your stash and see if that could be a possibility for you and yours, although it’s kinda hard to get our grandkiddos together with us each night during the month of December, but hey we could modify that idea and if they come over during the holidays, let them unwrap a story and make some memories together. Might establish a new tradition! Best thing ever!
A very popular book to open the Christmas season, is a heartwarming book entitled “The Light of Christmas” by Richard Paul Evans and illustrated by Daniel Craig. This book has a very good message without being didactic, and each page is filled with beautiful pictures. The story takes place in the town of Noel, high in the mountains. Noel is surrounded with beautiful city gates, and each year, on Christmas Eve, the lighting of the Christmas tree and the Christmas torch takes place. This is very important, because the lighting of the torch brings the warmth and light of Christmas to the entire world. This lighting is accomplished by the Keeper of the Flame, who is very old, and has announced that this year, he will choose another to replace him. A person who will give the truest gift.
A young boy, Alexander, and his mother usually walk from their home to the city for this event, but the last few years, it has become too difficult for his mother, so Alexander has made the journey alone. When Alexander nears the gates of the city, it is close to the time that the gates will close, and no one is permitted into the city after that. But there in the snow, by the side of the road, Alexander sees a man lying there, motionless and cold. He stops and rubs the mans hands and face to warm them, gives him some of his warm cider to drink, and wraps him in his cloak. The old man rallies, and asks Alexander who he is, and if he is an angel. Alexander tells him his name, and explains that he cannot lift him, but will try to get some help. However, no one will come to his aid, because they do not want to miss the lighting of the torch. When Alexander goes back to the old man, he has disappeared, and the city gates are closing. He sadly sits down next to the gate to wait. He hears a creak, and the gate opens just enough that he is able to slip inside. The Keeper of the Flame appears in his beautiful robe, and announces, “Let the offerings begin.” Everyone brings their gifts and places them under the tree. One brings a beautiful song, another, a wonderful story, and the richest man brings an ornament for the tree made of gold and precious stones. But the Keeper tells them that although they have all given much, there is only one who has given well. He asks Alexander to come to him. He explains that he, the Keeper, was the old man in the snow, and they all had passed him by, except for this young boy, of course, Alexander is chosen to be the new Keeper of the Flame, and this kind of ending always gives me the sniffles.
Very satisfying story, and one you can read to children of all ages. You may have read it before, because its been around awhile, but you might want to consider purchasing this one to read every year, because it reminds us all that the truest gift is the gift of self.
Yea! Love this book! And, here’s a little bonus. The author’s proceeds from the book are donated to The Christmas Box House International, which is a shelter and facility for abused and neglected children.
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