Jerusha: I’m delighted to welcome Christian author, Heidi Chiavaroli, to the FW Blog today! Heidi is offering a free print copy of Freedom’s Ring (her time-slip novel that just brought home a Carol Award) to one of you! To enter the giveaway, simply read her inspiring post and leave a comment below.
By Heidi Chiavaroli
Christmas was a near magical time for me during my childhood. I remember the love, the smiles at Charlie Brown finding his spindly little tree, the gifts, Christmas Eve service, the music, and most of all—the joy.
So of course when I had my own children, I wanted to replicate this experience. A season of special joy and love. Memories that would capture the precious celebration of a Savior coming to earth for us. Lights, gifts, church, family, love. All wrapped in a shiny bow.
Perfect.
Yet as the first several Christmases with my little cherubs began to play out, I realized that things were not going quite as I’d anticipated. More often than not, my kids would throw a sugar-induced tantrum before the Christmas Eve service or argue about where the donkey in the manger should be placed. They’d tear through presents too fast, whine about traveling back and forth to different sides of the family, or express obvious disappointment over receiving a pair of jeans as a gift instead of a hoped-for toy.
Now, please don’t get me wrong. We had many beautiful moments. But my expectations, particularly for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, were so high that every year they fell short. And like Linus stubbornly clinging to his blue blanket, I doggedly clung to the idea of creating the perfect Christmas for my family—so much so that I couldn’t understand why I ended up distraught nearly every December over my unmet expectations.
As the kids grew older, I began to fear Christmas and what I was certain would be another year of disappointment. I could very much relate to Charlie Brown’s attitude. In fact, it’s only been in the last few years, as I’ve worked out the battle of fear in multiple areas of my life, that my perspective has shifted. The neat thing is that, in many ways, God used my writing to accomplish this change.
My debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, is about two women, centuries apart, who both battle fear, one as a Boston Marathon bombing survivor, and one as a Boston Massacre survivor.
Both women are bound with chains they were never meant to carry. Both women look to themselves to find the strength they know they lack. And both women find freedom not in clinging tighter to the things they value, but in letting them go.
This, perhaps, is a glimpse of what Christmas is about. Opening our hearts up to a God who loves us, and holding less tightly to everything else.
And you know, a funny thing happened when I started to learn alongside my characters, to cling a little less tightly to my own security blanket idea of what Christmas should be—I began to appreciate the season a whole lot more. I began to better glimpse the true importance of Advent. I began to trade my expectations and fears for freedom.
This defeating fear, this letting go of my need for control—it’s a slow journey, and it’s one I haven’t perfected. But I know one thing: as fear diminishes, as I accept that all the members of my family (especially me!) are flawed and in need of One who is stronger, we all enjoy Christmas—and every day—a whole lot more.
And as I sit down once again this year to watch that old favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus will once again remind me of what Christmas is truly about in that beautiful Christmas pageant scene. You know the one, right? Charlie Brown has just thrown up his hands and opened his large, cartoon mouth to yell, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
And Linus, who is known for clinging to that old blanket says, “Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” and he goes to the center of the stage, dragging his blanket behind him.
Now if you’ve watched or read the Charlie Brown comics, you know that all of Linus’s friends have tried to get him to part with his blanket, but despite his age, he refuses to release it. It’s his security. His need for control. His idea of a perfect Christmas.
Until now. When Linus is sharing the good news of the gospel in Luke 2, he drops what has always been a security for him. And he drops it on some important words.
“And they [the shepherds] were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, (cue the blanket drop!) for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’”
Did you hear that?
Fear not…because there’s good news.
Fear not…because the gospel is for you.
Fear not…because the battle has already been won.
Jason Soroski says this about Linus’s move: “Looking at it now, it’s pretty clear what Charles Schulz was saying through this, and it’s so simple it’s brilliant. The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears. The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves. The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.”
This world can be a crazy place, and like Linus grasping for his blanket, like me as a young mother grasping for that perfect Christmas, we look to things that give us temporal security and joy.
But in the midst of our fears and uncertainty, God is calling us to true peace, to true security in the only place it has always been found. He’s calling us to live fully, stop clinging to our own ideas of perfection, drop the blanket, and be free.
Do you fear imperfection at Christmas or the rest of the year? Have you let go of control and found peace? Please share!
Photos by Beatriz Pérez Moya, freestocks.org, and Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, and grace-clinger who could spend hours exploring Boston’s Freedom Trail.
She is an ACFW Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. Both her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring and her sophomore novel, The Hidden Side are Romantic Times Top Picks. Freedom’s Ring was also a BOOKLIST Top Ten Romance Debut.
She makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
Connect with Heidi at her website, and on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and BookBub.
Heidi is giving away one print copy of her award-winning time-slip novel, Freedom’s Ring! Leave a comment below to enter the giveaway! (Winner to be randomly selected Dec. 17, 2018; Winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
Boston — 2015
Although two years have passed since the Boston Marathon bombing, Annie David continues to be haunted by the call to be Boston Strong. She knows the truth: she is far from strong.
She cannot seem to release two burdens left to her that tragic day—guilt over a crippled niece, and an old ring that evokes a hazy hero’s face. But when she finds a business card with the same emblem as the ring, she’s finally able to discover her hero…and the story of the woman behind the ring.
Boston — 1770
As a single woman in a rebellious town, Liberty Caldwell finds herself in a dangerous predicament. When tensions mount in the form of the Boston Massacre, her world is shattered as her brother, with whom she has just reunited, is killed in the fray.
Overcome with anger at all redcoats, she plans to leave her employment at the British Officers’ Home. But upon her return she is attacked by the roguish captain when Lieutenant Alexander Smythe isn’t there to rescue her. In her fury she leaves the home with all of her belongings and a ring that belonged to her dear Alexander. Suddenly her attraction to him is tarnished by the uniform he wears.
The Boston Massacre sparked the American Revolution; the Boston Marathon bombing set a city on edge. Both became the proof of where true strength lies.
Comments 26
I think every single mother needs to read this
My fear is a little different this year. I am battling the fear my daughter wont be happy with the presents she received because of some circumstances out of my control I am having some pretty bad financial difficulties. So I really appreciate this post and plan on reading Luke chapter 2 when I am done leaving this comment
Haley, thank you so much for leaving this comment and sharing your heart.Presents were a big part of my childhood Christmases that I’ve also tried to replicate. But honestly, there’s been many years that I’ve simply gone overboard, even ending up stressed and in some debt. Simple really can be better. This is one thing I need to let go of myself. Thank you for the reminder, and I am praying you and your daughter rest in the true reason for the season. Merry Christmas.
Author
Congratulations, Haley! You’re the randomly selected winner of Heidi Chiavaroli’s novel, Freedom’s Ring! I’ll contact you via email with more details.
Yes, everyone does a better job of decorating and wrapping presents and coking the meal. My children are grown so now I don’t have to do all of that and can’t stand long and can’t manage since my back. I try to cenebrate the true meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving every day. I’m not perfect, but I try. . Sine my granddaughter who was 12 died 3 years ago celebrating Christmas will never be the same. Without her we can’t have the same Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas Eve,or Christmas Day or any holiday and eternity seems very far away. While people complain about dumb things, about the holidays, about other people and not wanting to siend Christmas with them, it makes me even more sad. They take their lives for granted. Life is fragile. In the blink of an eye everything can change. They will realize Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect. Just having your loved ones healthy and with you is the best present. Once your kids are grown and out of the house the have two familiese each to visit once they are married and it’s hard to get the entire family together so enjoy each Christmas for what it is and when you look back even with flaws here and there they will be priceless memories more precious the older they get and you get. We aren’t promised tomorrow and some people that were with us last Christmas aren’t and won’t be here this Christmas. The are spending Christmas with God and Jesus like my granddaughter Elyssa this is her 4th Christmas in heaven and our angel baby’( Paul) 27th Christmas in heaven.My in laws 5 years in heaven flow. Elyssa’s great grandparents are with her and they adore her. I can’t wait to see them and spend eternity with them. I wonder if Christmas is extra special in heaven or evervday already is. Merry Christmas.
Oh, Donna, my heart is breaking for you, and at the same time I am grateful for your insight and wisdom. Thank you so much for sharing your heart here. I am praying for you this day, and especially for this season. I know one day you will all be rejoicing together, celebrating not just Christmas, but the resurrection. <3
The older I get, the more I am able to let go and just enjoy the moment. It certainly is more enjoyable!
My favorite hobby is reading and I would love to read this book. It sounds fascinating!
Blessings on your work and for a peaceful Christmas!
It certainly is, Mary Ellen, and I do wonder if some age and wisdom help us with that. 😉 Thanks so much for your kind words, and for stopping in!
Thanks so much for this insightful post. What blessings the Lord offers us when we rely on Him!
Thank you so much, Anne!
Heidi thank you for this post. I been having a rough couple of years with my family and I don’t know why but I know I’m my heart that everything that God put us through has a purpose and mine was to see that only to lean on God not other people because they will always disappoint you but God will not be only does what is best for you. You Heidi and God of course has taught me that. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for stopping in, Tammy. Yes, I think we will always be disappointed by people, and I am learning that I am forever disappointing people too…thanking Him for grace.
Oh I needed this today!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks so much for stopping in, Abby!
I woke up crying every morning as the season of Christmas 2016 began. My sister Peggy had passed away on August 3, twelve days before her 61st birthday and I was heartbroken. Yes, I was thankful she was free of pain and our whole family knew she was dancing with Jesus, yet I seemed to have lost my joy somewhere along the way.
I invited her son Ben to spend Christmas with us. He was getting his Masters degree at Kent State University so I knew he had a long break. The “first of anything” is always the hardest and I didn’t want him to be alone. And I knew everyone in our family would be happy to see and spend time with him too.
So everyday I prayed, and put that day in God’s Hands, asking for strength to carry me through just that day. Slowly I began to feel less anxious, and as the days passed I could feel my spirit being renewed and my joy gradually returning. When Ben arrived on December 21, I felt complete. We had a Merry Christmas the entire six days he stayed with us. Yes, we missed Peggy but we talked about her a lot, told our favorite stories and shared precious memories. We all felt she was with us in spirit. And I knew Ben was going to be fine, because as we were eating Christmas dinner he looked up at the ceiling and with a straight face said “Mom, make sure you ask Grandpa to pass the mashed potatoes. If you don’t do it now, you won’t get any”. As we all laughed I sent up my own prayer of thanks for God’s Perfect Love, and for restoring not only my joy but Ben’s too.
What a beautiful story, Judith. Thank you so very much for sharing. I love how God worked to cast out your sadness and fear and how your sister’s memory is living on in all of you. What a beautiful Christmas gift! Merry Christmas.
Author
Wow, Judith! What a powerful testimony of God giving joy in place of fear during difficult circumstances. Thank you for sharing this encouragement!
I love that scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas! Thanks for pointing out the parallel in how we cling so tightly to trying to control our circumstances rather than trusting God.
Thanks for stopping in, MJ!
Thank you for sharing your struggles with perfection, Heidi! Your post has convicted and challenged me. I’ve struggled with perfectionism for a long time now, especially in striving to be a perfect author who writes perfect books and manages the writing business—perfectly. 🙂 That’s impossible even for a healthy author, and I have Lyme disease. No one can be perfect, but achieving a high standard of excellence is still possible, which encourages me.
Recently, I was talking with some ladies at church about perfectionism, and my pastor’s wife said we have to ask ourselves why we want things to be perfect. She pointed out that perfectionism can be an idol. I had never thought of that before!
BTW, I’m a huge Revolutionary War fan and would LOVE to read your book. 🙂 My writing mentor (who’s also a huge fan of the same time period) even gave me a musketball from Yorktown.
Katie, that is SO neat!! (The musketball! lol)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. I can definitely relate to that struggle for perfectionism, and have been guilty of making it an idol more than once.
Thanks so much for stopping by. All the best in your own writing, and Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for sharing from your heart. Christmas is always a time of reflection on what it should or could be, but somehow it is always a joyful time at our home, even when there hasn’t been any $$ for gifts.
Thanks for the giveaway – this book sounds fabulous 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping in, Betti! Christmas in your family sounds beautiful. <3
My heart is heavy this holiday season but for the sake of my children I am trying. I really needed to read these words of encouragement today. Thank you
Deanne, I am so sorry to hear about your circumstances, and have just prayed for you. Thank you so much for stopping by. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you, Heidi!
Author
I’m praying for you, too, Deanne. Thank you for sharing your heart! May the joy of our Savior’s birth find you and overflow within you this holiday season, despite your circumstances. Thank you for joining the conversation!