When Christmas rolls around, I am sometimes asked to read a "children's" story at the Christmas Eve meeting. Some years, I choose better than others.
This year, I thought I would read "A Certain Small Shepherd" by Rebecca Caudill but my copy has gone missing. As luck would have it, I own the book "Children of Christmas" by Cynthia Rylant. This group of holiday stories is just about my favorite collection ever. Unfortunately, some of the stories affect me emotionally so I can't read them out loud, especially in public. The story, "Silver Packages" was just right for sharing. In fact, that story has been turned into a stand alone picture book.
Like Caudill's story, "Silver Packages" takes place in Appalachia. A rich man shows gratitude to the people who helped him in his time of need by tossing silver wrapped packages from the caboose of a train that wends its way through the mountains right before Christmas. A boy yearns for one particular toy. He never receives it. The presents he does open each Christmas morning are things he needs to stay warm and healthy. And one day he returns to the mountains to repay that debt.
It was a good choice for read/telling out loud. If you get a chance, look for these books at your library. Read "For Being Good" from "Children of Christmas".
That's the story I can't read out loud.
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