Guest Author - Diana Pederson

It’s the last week of Christmas shopping. If you haven’t found suitable gifts for everyone on your list this year, you may want to order one of these books from amazon.com (they’ll deliver overnight if necessary). Each book deals with a different aspect of Christmas.

The Night is Nigh, by Leisha Kelly, takes place in 1933. In December of 1932 the Worthams lose a faithful friend—the wife of George Hammond. This year the children are together in the Wortham home. George Hammond has disappeared. There is much worry about his safety due to his state of mind. It is the depression and neither family really has enough money for much of a holiday.

Although I would seldom choose this book to read, I wound up loving its story. It shows how even in difficult times, communities come together to meet each others’ needs. In this case, some children help their elders remember the real meaning of Christmas. Others in the community help their caregivers remember that God hasn’t forgotten them. You’re sure to love how the story ends.

Jerry Camery-Hoggatt’s Giver of Gifts is a collection of three stories that shows the real meaning of Christmas. The first story is an in-depth story behind the children’s book, “When Mother was Eleven-Foot-Foot. You can read my review of the children’s version is now a separate book. You can read my review here.

“Joseph’s Son”, tells the story of Christ’s birth from his father’s perspective. It makes fascinating reading since we know more about Mary’s reaction to Jesus than we do his father’s reaction. Sometimes I have wondered what Joseph was feeling as he raised Jesus to adulthood. Did he have even an inkling of what was ahead for his son on the day of His birth?

“Through a Glass Darkly” is a rather strange story about the eyes in a picture of a deceased family member. If you like stories with just a bit of the supernatural, you’ll love this story. I can’t tell you much more without giving everything away.

Rhonda Rhea’s book, “I’m Dreaming of Some White Chocolate” contains her reflections from past Christmases. Her purpose is to help bring you some peace in the midst of the stress surrounding Christmas. You’ll enjoy the author’s sense of humor, and gain a deeper understanding of Christmas based on scripture. It’s one of those books that allow you to read just a few pages at a time without losing the story. I look forward to more books from this author.