The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christmas Carols/Carolling (10/02/08)
No Christmas lights nor Christmas trees lit the path. No wreaths hung on doors to bring in the Christmas spirit. In fact, to date, no electricity had been invented to support the oh, so beautiful lights of Christmas.

The homes along the way of the journey were made of brick combined with some stone for the foundation. The inns along the dusty path were made of the same material, only larger. No welcoming lights shone in the windows of the inns and the couple were looking for lodging in the night. Door after door they knocked on and arose innkeepers from deep sleep. Answering in their nightclothes, they would reply, "No room here. Try the next inn."

Finally, one kind enough offered the stable, which in those days, was a cave in the back of the inn that housed all the animals. "The hay is soft enough to sleep on! I am sorry that is all I have to offer, but it will get you off your feet for the night and give you much-needed rest."

Rest was not forthcoming. The pain started sometime in the night. She was in labor, the start of a miraculous birth, the birth that Gabriel, the archangel, had announced. A birth provided by the Holy Spirit and the woman, Mary herself. Her husband, Joseph, held her hand, squeezed it and told how much he loved her. He helped her with the birth, no midwives were present to assist. He had taken such ridicule over this birth with the citizens calling Mary unfaithful and an adulteress. He was so proud to be a part of it.

They were alone on this special night. The glow in their eyes from the knowledge of what this newborn baby would mean for the world shone like the light of the glory of the Lord! No Christmas lights were needed for the angelic illumination in the stable. No Christmas carols were sung for a symphony in their ears; the angels were already singing, a full-blown choir surrounding Joseph and Mary.

And as the pain subsided and the little one was placed in her arms, she whispered, "And you shall be called Jesus." The newborn baby's cry broke the stillness of the night as she hummed the first Christmas Carol and rocked the baby in her arms, a lullaby to our Lord.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 945 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Norma-Anne Hough
10/09/08
I've often wondered what it must really have been like for Mary and Joseph. I liked your story. Blessings,
Norms
Beth B
10/09/08
Thank you for writing and sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it. I especially loved the ending, "...as she hummed the first Christmas Carol and rocked the baby in her arms, a lullaby to our Lord." God bless you and your writing.
Jan Ackerson
10/09/08
A unique take on the topic!

Since you're telling a very, very familiar story, consider thinking of ways to bring something new to it...something to pull your readers along.

I like the idea of the "first Christmas carol". I'd have loved to hear it!
Josephine Killham
10/11/08
Beautiful. You made Mary and Joseph seem so real. Thank you, Josephine
Phyllis Inniss 
10/13/08
A lovely story. I'm never tired of hearing it and you have presented it in a very refreshing way.