Helena Smrcek

I love Christmas. And by that, I mean the Christmas music, the baking and cooking, present wrapping, the whole entire shebang. But one of my favorite things is decorating our Christmas tree.

See, early on in our marriage, I started a special collection. We would purchase one ornament that would signify the most meaningful moments of that year. Our very first one, dated 1990, has two little bears riding a sleigh and reads Our First Christmas Together.

A few years later, we began a new tradition. As my children reached the age when they started to enjoy stories, our collection grew. Our son loved Winnie-the-Pooh, hence the two cute ornaments. Our daughter was enthralled by all things pink and princess and received a collection of Disney princess stories, and a Rapunzel ornament. Dr. Suess was big around our house for a while. This collection of books marked yet another new tradition for our family. Themed road trips.

We spent one of our winter holidays in Springfield, MA, visiting the above-mentioned Dr. Suess, his town, and a museum. And yes, we did bring a few ornaments from there, too.

As our children grew older, Star Wars became part of their reading repertoire. A Luke Skywalker ornament swings from our tree’s branches to remind us of that.

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I remember the discussions of concerned parents who said that due to screen time, our kids would no longer read books. Enter stage: Harry Potter. When Universal Studios opened the new section of their theme park, of course, we had to take them. The ornaments from that trip are carefully unwrapped each year and hold a prominent place.

As I looked at our Christmas tree and saw the ornaments from Charles Dicken’s house, I realized that a lot of our travel was a direct result of the books we read. The collection grew over the years and slowly replaced our classic ornaments.

Well, now to the Christmas present. Both of our adult children live on their own, so the tree decorating falls to me. And it is mostly just my husband and I who embark on literary adventures. His favorite one so far is our trip to Scotland, inspired by, you guessed it, the Outlander series. I absolutely loved our visit to Egypt, following the footsteps of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.

On those days when I wonder where all the years went, I look at our special ornaments and feel a deep sense of gratitude for every day that God blessed us. I would not change it, trade it, or rewrite it.

Every author draws on their life experiences as they create stories for their readers. I love that we were inspired all those years ago and started our unusual collection because now it tells our story.

My prayer is that as our lives continue, we keep up with this tradition and add an ornament or two each year as we continue our reading journey. And when the time comes, we will pass on this custom to the next generation, for I believe with all my heart that stories are important. They not only matter to us and our families, but they also matter to God.

Our lives are a testament to God’s goodness, the prayers answered, and the miracles received. Hope is the substance of the best stories. And hope is what God sent, wrapped in the tiny body of a little baby, to the humble manger in Bethlehem. Just think of the shepherds who stumbled upon this miracle. Reading the Christmas story in the Bible during this cherished season, we are transported to Bethlehem, where the shepherds heard the angels, saw the star, and met our Savior. I wonder if one or two of them bent down and picked up a pebble to remind them that their feet stood on holy ground, witnessing the greatest miracle of all.

This new life that we celebrate every December came down to us with one purpose. To show us that God is real and that He loves us. And as we plug in our glowing star atop our Christmas tree, I cannot help but marvel at the power of that story. Millions read it in the Holy Scriptures and re-told it countless times. And as our tree topper glitters, we are reminded that the world will pause for a day or two and listen to the beautiful carols re-telling the story of Jesus’s birth.

This Christmas, let our lives be the most beautiful ornaments, the witness to God’s love and mercy. May our testimony open the doors to those who are still lost and need to know our loving Father. Let our prayers be the guiding stars lighting up the path that would lead them to Jesus. For God is good, and His arms are open wide, ready to welcome each one of his lost children as they make their way home.

And as the hustle and bustle of this season settles, do not forget to grab a book, and give yourself a gift or rest, relaxation and escape. Why not let Angela Hunt to take you on a trip to ancient Israel. Visit WWII London with Sarah Sundin. Chase the bad guys with Lisa Phillips. Or you can simply grab a cup of hot chocolate and get lost in one of the many Christmas anthologies such as I’ll Be Home. Enjoy.

 

Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author and screenwriter who believes in the power of a well-told story. Her readers can expect a captivating page-turner filled with thrilling suspense and heartwarming romance. When not at her keyboard, Helena loves listening to audiobooks, working on her hobby farm, and traveling. She lives in Southern Ontario with her husband, three Vizslas, several cats, a herd of goats, and an undisclosed number of chickens.