There’s something about a Christmas story that gives the heartstrings a good tug. I know, it’s not even November, and here comes more talk about Christmas. I’ve given up fighting the onslaught. Even as I find the pretty fall wreath in storage and set it out, along with my ceramic pumpkins. I’m ready for some orange! Give me some pumpkin pie and a pumpkin latte, and some cranberry sauce right now. My hubby, on the other hand, is more than ready for Christmas and all the trimmings—decorations galore with cookies to boot.
I’m not trying to hurry things here, but I thought I’d chat about Christmas love. Years ago, I met a guy in my church singles’ group. I’ll call him Bob. Kind, softspoken, a musician. We seemed to hit it off. He sought me out. I was flattered. And it was not quite Christmas time.
The singles gathered at our pastor/music director’s home for a Christmas party. Food, fun, games. Not really much pairing off. And Bob didn’t stray too far from my side.
Usually I’m the hopeless romantic, but there are times when I’m not. And with Bob, I wasn’t. I didn’t entertain the idea of a kiss under the mistletoe with Bob, nor walks in the chilly night, standing hand-in-hand while Christmas caroling. Nope.
Not that there was anything wrong with Bob. He clearly wanted to “meet someone,” and at the moment, that someone was me. Before the party was over, he asked me to lunch after church on Sunday. So, we went.
Lunch was followed by a movie date, and we went to see “Edward Scissorhands.” The movie was okay, but had (I thought) a sad ending. The date was okay.
I wasn’t feeling it. No caroling, cookies or mistletoe. Could I let myself enjoy more?
After that second date, I wished him well and said I didn’t want to be more than his friend, as I was looking at a possible move to Texas. Two months later, I did move to Texas. I heard later, the spring after I moved he did meet someone and they eventually did marry. I’m happy for Bob. He didn’t find love at Christmas, and that’s okay.
But back to the beginning of this post, there’s something delightfully romantic about love at Christmas. Christmas for me is one of the coziest—and craziest—times of the year. We have our traditions, family is near, and we focus on the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Add a blossoming love story to the mix and there are happy sighs all around.
In real life, though, sometimes Christmas doesn’t happen that way for us. Like Bob, and me. The cookies crumble, family can’t make it for the big day, and blooming love just. . .doesn’t. It happens, whether Christmas—or love—disappoints us.
It’s still fun, though, to curl up with a Christmas story or watch a Christmas show where love happens—in spite of it all.
What are some of your favorite Christmas books—or movies? Do you have any special reads on your list this year, or any movies you’re looking forward to?
Happy news for Elizabeth Goddard and me – our September release, A Grand Teton Sleigh Ride, is #12 on the ECPA bestseller list. That’s thanks to readers everywhere.
Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of over 15 titles for Barbour Publishing, Harlequin, and Abingdon Press. Lynette was born in Western Massachusetts in the shadow of the Berkshire Mountains, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip. When she's not writing fiction, she works as a reporter for her city newspaper and has a weekly column called My Front Porch.
I love a good holiday story, love the cover …