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By Janie Reinart
Lift a mug of hot chocolate for the merry, not naughty but nice, Susanna Leonard Hill.
It's time for the 7th Annual Holiday Contest.
1.Write a 250 word holiday story about A Holiday Surprise, appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under). The title is not included in the 250 words. You can go under, but not over the word count!
2. No illustration notes please! You may submit more than one entry.
3.Your entry should be posted on your blog between 12:01 AM EST Thursday December 7 and Sunday December 10 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official holiday contest post which will go up on Susanna's blog on Thursday December 7 and remain up through Friday December 15, 2017.
Thank you, Susanna for always inviting us to to be merry and for the gifts for the winners! Here is my 249 word story for the contest. Thank you for stopping by. Many blessings for a Happy Holiday.
Channah's Star
By Janie Reinart
I am Channah, the innkeeper’s daughter. Balancing a jar
on my head, I hasten to bring water to our many guests.
My feet kick up puffs of dirt. I place clay lamps in
every niche around the outer wall. Don’t tell. I’m afraid of the dark.
Someone is knocking.
My father says,"Shalom.”
My eyes meet those of the lady on the
donkey.
“ My wife is
about to give birth. Do you have room? ”
I
whisper in father’s ear, “What about out back?”
He
sighs, “We have a place with the animals.”
The
lady smiles. The goodness in her eyes shines like a lantern. I gather fig cakes
into a leather scrip.
Father
surprises me. “Channah will take you.“
My
heart skips a beat. Eventide makes me shiver.
Slinging
the strap of the scrip over my shoulder, I grab a lamp.
At
the limestone cave, the animals snort. I place the food for the lady near the
lamp.
“I
will bring water.”
My
knees shake. The night is as dark as a bottomless well. Wait... A light, luminous as the sun, brightens
my way. A new star! Could this be the night foretold? Joy burns in me like embers in a fire. I’m not
afraid.
I
return and hear the soft cries of the lady’s babe wrapped in swaddling.
“Would
you like to hold Him?”
In
the peacefulness of the starry night, I cradle the Child. My heart fills with wonder and I feel
the nearness of God.
What a lovely Christmas story Janie! You captured the atmosphere wonderfully...and in 250 words! Love that it is told by the inn keeper's daughter. No need to be afraid of the dark any longer, the light has come!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the contest ~Vicki
Thank you Vicki. Blessings for this season and New Year.
DeleteThis is such a beautiful story, Janie! Good luck! Love and Light.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jill. Blessings and a Happy New Year.
DeleteLovely images and message.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherri. I enjoyed writing the story. Many blessings to you and yours.
DeleteFilled with spirit and wonder-simply lovely and heart warming, Janie. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charlotte. Many blessings to you and your family in the new year.
DeleteBeautifully done, Janie. How you were able to convey such a wonder of a message in 250 is amazing.
ReplyDelete❤️ Thank you. Many blessings for a beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
DeleteA heartwarming story, Janie. Love the emotions you evoke with this. You show us her fear and then her calm and wonder.
ReplyDelete❤️ May the wonders of this season fill your heart with peace. Happy New Year too.
DeleteA beautiful new way to view the story of Christmas! Such a lovely story, Janie! A winner--contest or not.
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks Anne. Blessings to you and yours in the new year.
DeleteJanie, I agree with Anne, a winner regardless of contest outcome. I love the POV and the hope this story brings. The Christ Child takes away our fear, show us how to lend a helping hand, and lights our way. BRAVO.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy. We all need hope.
DeleteYou've captured the spirit of Christmas, especially with the inn keeper's daughter. Lovely how she gets to hold Christ in her arms. Happy Holidays to everyone.
ReplyDeleteEleanor, there is nothing better than holding a baby and seeing the divine in that child and all we meet. Many blessings to you and yours.
DeleteBeautiful story, Janie! AND You created a three dimensional character wonderfully in so few words. Well done!
ReplyDeleteJilanne thank you for your kind words. Blessings.
DeleteBeautiful and love this point of view, Janie! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina. Blessings and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
DeleteI can see this as a picture book--and I would buy enough for my students! Well done! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. From your lips to God's ear.
DeleteSuch a beautiful and sensitive telling of the Christmas story. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCarol, thank you for your kind words. Blessings for you and yours.
DeleteBeautiful story, Janie. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteDelfina, Thank you. Many blessings to you and yours.
DeleteLovely, Janie!
ReplyDeletePatricia, Blessings of the season and Happy New Year.
DeleteSuch a beautiful, heart-warming story, Janie.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas blessings to you and your family.
Thank you. Many blessings to you and yours and Happy New Year.
DeleteLove the voice and how beautifully you set the scene. Well done, Janie!
ReplyDeleteGabi, thanks for your kind words. Many blessings of the season to you and yours.
DeleteOh, Janie! What a lovely, lovely story! You made me all teary at the end! Love all the little detail touches - the scrip and fig cakes, the clay lamps in the outer wall. And really, Channah got the best surprise of all - getting to hold the Child. Thanks for a wonderful story that is truly of the season!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanna for your kind words and for working so hard read all the entries. Blessings to your and yours. Happy New Year.
DeleteA beautiful story Janie! You captured the essence of this wondrous season.
ReplyDeleteBoldwriter, I like that "captured the essence"! Many blessings to you and yours.
Delete