Celebrating Christmas: Through The Eyes Of A Child

The story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem has been studied by scholars for centuries, lovingly shared by parents with their children, and invites all to pause and reflect. Once again, Dr. Bill Effler, a former pastor, university educator, and counselor, and his artistic counterpart, Paula Friedman, team up in "Through the Eyes of a Child, Celebrating Christmas." They communicate a powerful message: the real essence of understanding the Christmas story is reflected in how we choose to live with others throughout the year. Author Hamilton Wright Mabie echoes this same sentiment: "Christmas invites the whole world to a conspiracy of love."

In their narrative, a father draws antique Christmas ornaments out from an old steamer trunk and tells the Christmas story to three young boys. One simple but profound lesson the boys hear is that they are to be like the innkeeper, a central character in the Christmas story. The father explains to the boys, "Someday, you may be asked to be inconvenienced - like the innkeeper - so someone else can find peace." Effler and Friedman create an engaging picture that inspires readers, young and old alike, to realize the Christmas season is a unique opportunity to become the person they hope to be throughout the year.