Books We Love and I are excited to offer you, our readers, a free collection of romantic short stories as a Kindle Exclusive. "Before Tomorrow Comes" will be free on December 8, 15, 22. Even if you aren't a Kindle Unlimited member, the book is only $4.99 to download. This special collection is my thank you for your loyalty which has provided me a platform for twenty novels. ENJOY!
Is it harder and harder every year to find a gift just perfect for all the people on your holiday list? Perhaps you've been looking in the wrong kind of store. I invite you to go shopping with Carolyn as she is "In Search of the Perfect Gift."
As
numerous people converged on the single checkout lane, Carolyn began putting
her items on the counter. Halfway through, she faced the cashier, realizing she
was missing a key item on her list.
“Oh,
dear,” she mumbled. She kept stacking the rest of her purchases on the counter,
not noticing that Holly, the one and only cashier, was anxiously looking back
at the line of people behind her.
“Ma’am,
if you forgot something, perhaps we can put your other purchases aside so I can
help the next person in line.”
Carolyn
looked around, totally unaware that she was holding everyone else up. “Of
course,” she rapidly scooped the glittering and twinkling items back into her
basket. “I’ll just go see if I can find that one last item. I simply can’t do
without it.” She turned her cart around and headed toward the back of the
store. She glimpsed the line of customers. It would seem a tremendous number of
people had found out about this unique store, which specialized in all things
happy and joyous for the holiday season.
Carolyn
glanced at the shoppers’ carts as she hurried along the line. Almost everyone
had a twinkling box that contained just what she was looking for. How could she
have forgotten it? In this day and economy, she supposed it wasn’t unusual for people
to buy a little extra portion for the holidays when they could find it. This particular
store, tucked in a small strip mall at the edge of town, was the only place she
knew that had all the items she wanted for her Christmas gifts.
She
slowed as she came to the cherish aisle. Among the different
size boxes of affection, a small television advertised cherish with a short
video of an older couple, celebrating their 75th anniversary. How
many people could cherish and hold each other in reverence for that length of
time?
Next
to cherish
was a whole section of belief; more than should be there at
this time of the shopping season. The aisle was almost dark; the boxes dull and
lifeless on the shelves. Didn’t people believe anymore? Thinking over the
latest news and the stories her friends had told her, she understood how hard
it was to believe. One friend and her family had lost their house; another had
lost a job and still another had recently lost a parent to a crippling disease.
It was no wonder people quit believing in good things happening. Even though
she already had a box of belief, Carolyn put another in her
shopping cart. Her friends needed it.
She
turned down the next aisle, not because she needed anything but she couldn’t
resist the children she heard. As she walked slowly among the happiness
and laughter
holograms, she was caught up in their merriment. Regardless of where they were
from -- and it looked like there were children from all over the world -- they
played as if they had not a care in the world. Perhaps it was a case of
innocence; that small children could forget about the cares of the world and be
themselves – happy and carefree, if only for a short time.
Finally
Carolyn came to the aisle containing the item she had neglected, although how
she could have, she really didn’t know. As she gathered up box after box of hope,
she counted her blessings. Hope contained the joy
and faith
of the season. When mixed with love and the faith and belief
of good things to come, hope made a powerful mixture that
could not be denied. Hope helped people survive the day
to day trauma that at times was overwhelming. They found hope in family ties and
community efforts.
As
Carolyn hurried back into line, she realized she wasn’t the only one hoping for
the best. Glittering and twinkling boxes of love and faith,
among other wishes, had brought these customers to this magical store and
each and every basket glowed with light. Customers in line had a special look
about them. Eyes twinkled and lips tipped up in various stages of smiles. Every
person’s face held a memory from some past, happy holiday. Carolyn hoped that
regardless of the problems people faced, her small wishes would help them have
a better holiday.
Wishing
you and your family the best of the holidays with...
Belief
Happiness
Laughter
Joy
Love
Faith
Cherish
Hope
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