Ryan Whitaker Smith chose thirty passages from G. K. Chesterton's writings that deal with Christmas, then paired them with Scripture verses and wrote a daily devotion around each pairing. I had a great time reading one each morning in December, and then I spent the next week or so reading through the poems, essays, and a couple of short stories by Chesterton that fill out the second half of the book.
And there are even some fun traditional British Christmas recipes! They're things that got mentioned elsewhere in the book, and I just might have to try my hand at a couple of them. And the book ends with explanations of some fun old-fashioned games to play with friends and family.
All in all, this book is a little treasure trove, and I'm glad I have added it to my library :-)
Particularly Good Bits:
Our natural disposition is rarely the personification of cheerfulness. On this point it is crucial to remember that habits only become habits through repetition. The more we practice joy, the more effortlessly it will come to us. The more we revel, the more we will become revelers. The more we embody cheerfulness, the more naturally we will be of good cheer. Thank God that Christmas descends so inconsiderately upon us, giving a "last push" to those "afraid to be festive" -- for often we are numbered among them (p. 68).
If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: G. Nothing here you couldn't read aloud as a family.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What do you think?
Comments on old posts are always welcome! Posts older than 7 days are on moderation to dissuade spambots, so if your comment doesn't show up right away, don't worry -- it will once I approve it.
(Rudeness and vulgar language will not be tolerated.)