The Christmas season invites us every year to step back, reflect, and return to the heart of the story. Margaret Lee has, through her work entitled The Eve of The Christmas, given an exquisite presentation of the first Christmas with an ironic poetic elegance and sincerity of heart. Writing as Peggy L. Stortz, this book will reacquaint readers with the miracle events unfolding on that sacred night more than 2,000 years ago.
A very touching account of how Mary and Joseph had to go in search of shelter and found refuge in a humble stable along the way. Lee’s account of the events is impactful as she takes us walking with her in those moments. Each line captured the awesomeness and wonder of Jesus’ birth that night of nights, a night fully brightened up by the divine and a promise of hope.
One of the most striking things about this book is how it can reach all age groups. Though it is dedicated to “the child within all of us,” the resilience, faith, and love wide open to all alike cut across all barriers. Be it a young reader who listens to the Christmas story for the first time or an adult reflecting on the real meaning of it all, The Eve of The Christmas offers something timeless.
Margaret Lee, or Peggy L. Stortz in her personal life, brings a wealth of experience and love to this project. A retired classroom teacher with over two decades of experience, as well as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her life has been centered around nurturing and inspiring others. No wonder that her first book carries so much warmth and authenticity.
But The Eve of The Christmas isn’t about the story; it’s about the spirit it invokes. A shining star, leading shepherds, speaks to a reverent silence of onlookers at the birth of Jesus within the humble surroundings of a stable that recalls Christmas’s message—hope and salvation come into the world from the most unlikely and small places.
The humblest of all things, a retelling of poetry makes it strangely unique: this poem. Occasionally, feelings which cannot be confined in prose flow out of its own accord to find release through the avenue of poetry, just as Lee did with such poetic elegance and precise diction. Words are brought alive by their poetic dancing upon the page—the reader being introduced to every little moment—moments alive with color. It marks her stepping stone into a foray toward storytelling—something so timely, as Christmas brings Margaret Lee’s visions for her future: creative, fearless, universal works. That this is less a retelling but rather an invitation—away from chaos, remembering what Christmas really means, stepping back a moment and beholding its wonder—is more of a definition of its character.
Whether you’re looking for a gift for that special someone, a reflective read about yourself, or an event to share with the children at this time of year, The Eve of The Christmas is a perfect choice. It not only retells the origins of Christmas but also renews the magic and wonder that make the season so special.
Allow The Eve of The Christmas to pull you back into the beauty and joy of faith, family, and giving. It is one of those stories that will be etched in your heart forever-after you have read the last page, actually.
Get your copy today: The Eve of The Christmas on Amazon
