Restoring Christmas

Restoration: definition

1. the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.
2. return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.
3. restitution of something taken away or lost.

I don’t know about you, but I and my life are constantly in flux with the act of restoring.

Physically – the ever-present diet, exercise and closet adjustments

Materially – repairing, refining, rearranging, renewing our setting

Financially – investing in eternity and assisting temporarily in revival where led

Spiritually – daily applying the sandpaper of repentance, the primer of prayer and the high-gloss finish of praise

Emotionally – Oh my, emotionally – sighing and groaning for the losses in life, then ineffective attempts to restrain heart-deep joy at unspeakably precious moments with the Lord, with family, and with other beauties and loves of life

Mentally – I will never live long enough to read all I want to read (or write), and so I must be selective. Besides the Bible, of course, I strive for all material whether non-fiction or fiction to contain some Biblical aspects of life-changing potential.

That is why I choose books like Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

I jokingly wrote Cynthia the other day how my emotions go to war each time she produces another novel, because her stories are alive with scriptural principles and faith in action.

I open her books with anticipation – and anxiety…why?

I know that through the pleasure of acquaintance with her characters and the tension of discovering and working through their trials, I will see myself and I will also see God.  And it will also likely be another painful stretch.

Restoring Christmas beautifully fulfilled those criteria – and just in time to give me hope of restoring my own Christmas.

I’ve really not welcomed Christmas since 2014 – our first without Laurie. Admittedly a lot of our family members have had changes in their lives and locations that also confirm that though its meaning remains, much of Christmas will never be the same for me as it used to be.

And so it was for Gabe Langley the videographer and his father George, Alexis, the restoration contestant, and Elsie, the reluctant owner of the home (and Christmas) chosen to be restored.

As it is in life’s circles – families, friends, co-workers, etc. it is in the novel: when something profound happens to one – other lives in the circle are also bound to experience some impact.  (Click to Tweet)

There was plenty of impact, struggle, and reward for each in gaining a restored, slightly distressed, but spirit-filled Christmas attitude.

Two portions I felt most profoundly were Gabe’s question to Alexis if she was attempting to restore Christmas or just to improve her memories of it, and Elsie’s gift to Gabe and Alexis to learn that some distressed, broken, or missing pieces of past Christmases need to be acknowledged, honored, and recognized for beauty that cannot be replaced.

Through the story of a home restoration contest my “sticky-fresh grief” was addressed, Christmas and other unrealistic goals were readjusted, and, with each of Ruchti’s genuine characters, I felt a mantel of peace embrace stiff shoulders and energize a tired heart to find renewal through building into others lives.

Yes, I recommend the recently released Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti.

Available here in kindle and paperback:       Amazon.com

Meet Cynthia and learn more about her books here: Cynthia Ruchti