I admire the power of story. A well-told tale can pluck us from our current life then insert us into some totally different place and time. Along the way, the story can make us care about the hero/heroine and hope that person emerges victorious, whether the opposition comes in the form of bad guys, challenging goals, or a difficult situation. Through story, we can experience a wide range of emotions, almost as if we, ourselves, were living those experiences. A story that we truly enjoy will provide a feeling of satisfaction by The End. We may have even learned something about life.
As we approach the end of 2019, I notice several friends reminiscing about favorite Christmas stories, both books and movies. (A few confess already binging on Hallmark videos!) Does your own favorite story involving Christmastime include Dr. Marcia Fieldstone? Or romance? A Red Ryder BB Gun? Or maybe Cindy Who down in Whoville?
Some stories we all know. But chances are you’ve enjoyed a Christmas story that isn’t familiar to everyone. One Christmas movie I’ve watched several times is The Christmas Card. In it, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Cody Cullen is serving in Afghanistan when a fellow soldier gives him a Christmas card from a church in that soldier’s hometown of Nevada City, California. Somehow, the sincere words of that card bolster Cody despite the violence around him. After the soldier who gave him the card is killed, Cody goes to visit his widow in little Nevada City and accidentally meets Faith, the woman who penned the Christmas card… (I could say more, but I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t seen it. Just trust me, this movie has a warm, feel-good ending.)
How about you? If there’s a book or movie involving Christmas that you especially like, please comment below. Give us the title, and maybe a brief word about why you like that story. Sharing now will give others a chance to see it in the 7 weeks before Christmas.
P.S. In case you’ve never seen The Christmas Card, here are two links. The choice is yours: Watch it in English, or in Russian!
In English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GBAtOxyhEk
На русском: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzXMZ2AsGRk
Yes I saw the movie The Christmas Card and really enjoyed it also.
Thanks, Debbie. It’s a story that seems to touch hearts!
My favorite!
I actually have a tradition of collecting Christmas novels and children’s picture books.
I simply cannot give you just one so here’s a few favorites:
The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere
Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne
The Legend of the Candy Cane
The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado which also has been made into a movie
Hallmark Christmas movie “The Christmas Ornament”
Lynda, thanks for sharing. I understand how hard it can be narrowing favorites down to just one. Some of yours I’m familiar with, but not all of them. Thanks for these recommendations to check out!
Yes Rick, that is also one of my favorite Christmas movies. Good choice!
Janet, great minds, thinking alike. 🙂