I have a confession to make. I’m a mean person. Yup, it’s true. And you’re probably thinking that being mean is nothing to boast about, especially at Christmastime, when little elf ears might overhear and put me on Santa’s naughty list. But I’ve got to tell you, I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked to cultivate my mean streak. I had to!
After all, no one wants to read about perfect characters that nothing bad ever happens to. We might want to read books with a happy ending, but first, we want the characters to earn the right to get there.
That was the most important lesson I had to learn when I started writing for publication. I had to force myself to be really, really, really mean to my characters.
Of course, ultimately, my goal in making my characters’ lives miserable is to bring them out the other side as better people.
There’s a reason why James instructed believers to consider it pure joy when we face trials and tribulations. Because the testing of our faith helps us to mature.
So, if I have such good intentions for my created characters, how much better must the intentions of God—the author and perfector of our faith—be for us?
Now, unlike me, God’s not deliberately being mean.
Even if it can feel that way sometimes.
In a novella I recently finished, my characters were missing out on their happily ever after because of their fears of being hurt.
Or at least that was their problem as I—the character’s creator—saw it!
But hey, what do I know?
I came to realize, thanks to Stacey’s insight, that what was really going on is something that happens to a lot of us when our life derails and we get hurt. We attempt to control everything within our power as a means of coping with our fear of the future.
And that quest for some semblance of control can usurp God’s rightful place in our heart and become the thing we cling to instead of God, because we’re no longer willing to trust Him with our future.
Granted, it’s easier for me to tap a few keys on my keyboard to compel my characters to not let fear rule their lives, than it is for us to do it in real life. But if you’re feeling in a dark place this Christmas season, I urge you to trust that God still has an amazing story to tell with your life.
The angels’ proclamation to the shepherds that first long ago Christmas is good news, precisely because our salvation through Jesus is a gift, not something to be earned.
Speaking of gifts, it’s tempting to think if I just had—fill in the blank—I’d be happy. Children sure think that way when they eagerly write a Christmas gift wish list.
Yet, oftentimes, when the stuff we think we want is stripped away is when we finally see what we truly need. For myself, I’ve noticed that when I don’t spend time with God, dissatisfaction can quickly seep into my days. Have you ever had that happen and found yourself blaming your job, or spouse, or children, or the state of your home, or whatever?
The glorious news of the Christmas story is that you were created by a God who loves you. A God who sent his Son in the form of a precious babe to deliver us from the sin that separates us from Him. And finding our hope and purpose in Him alone is the best gift we can unwrap this Christmas.
Jillian Green’s holiday cheer nosedives when her great aunt’s friend, Herbert, is killed while helping them decorate for a fundraiser. But the case is more tangled than a strand of twinkle lights, and if Jillian can’t uncover the killer, Herbert’s night might not be the only one silenced this Christmas.
At the time of posting, Boughs of Folly is part of a three-book bundle. This set of three hardcover books, currently on sale for $9.95 USD at Annie’s Catalog, would make a great gift for the cozy mystery reader on your Christmas list.
Sandra Orchard writes fast-paced, keep-you-guessing stories with a generous dash of sweet romance. Touted by Midwest Book Reviews as “a true master of the [mystery] genre,” Sandra celebrated the publication of her 25th novel, Boughs of Folly, in 2022. Her novels have garnered numerous Canadian Christian writing awards, as well as, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Holt Medallion and a Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. She writes for Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. Connect with Sandra through her website (SandraOrchard.com) or Facebook.