Christmas in My Heart [Paperback]

Joe L. Wheeler (Compiler)

Book Description

Series: Christmas in My Heart | Publication Date: December 1999

A TREASURY OF OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS STORIES

Each Christmas, bookstores have displayed stacks and stacks of new Christmas books. Since this is so, why then should we come out with an eighth Christmas in My Heart? Good question! After all, are these books different from most of the others?

Dr. Wheeler has been asked that question by media interviews over and over, and this has been his standard response:

"I feel strongly that life is too short for me to waste my time reading stories that don't take me somewhere, don't do anything for me, don't make me a kinder, more loving, more empathetic person. Most Christmas stories are Santa Clausy and seem rather sterile to me. In order to make it into one of my Christmas collections, a story must be Christ-centered in terms of values, and it must speak to my heart, move me deeply, force me to reach for my Kleenex box. It is this heart-tugging quotient, I submit, that has kept this series alive for eight years now."

Stories in this book include: The Beloved House, Christmas in the Heart, A Pint of Judgment, Special Delivery, plus 10 more.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This is Wheeler's third collection of emotionally cathartic Christmas stories culled from thousands of potential "candidates." The anthology is an attempt to rediscover the family values inherent in this Christ-centered holy day. Preceded by saccharine and superfluous introductions, the 16 selections range from the ubiquitous "Gift of the Magi" through works by respected writers such as Pearl Buck, Taylor Caldwell, and Madeleine L'Engle to lesser-known and anonymous authors. The stories range from the poignancy of a mother's periodic "Jubilee" vacation away from her family through a teary-eyed twist on a Christmas pageant to the trauma of a homeless, pregnant teenager seeking refuge at holiday time. In its own way, each portrays God's intervention during the dark times. Author David Grayson intimates that the kindness of Christmas is too grand to take in all at once; he prefers his Christmas kindness spread throughout the year. That's also a great prescription for consuming these sensitive holiday morsels. Patricia Hassler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

No season beats Christmas for being sentimental. Somehow all things converge to make it a season for giving, caring, and sharing, especially with family. Undeniably, the stories we share make us inseparable from our families. Some stories become everyone's story by capturing the essence of Christmas. Those are the ones that become classics, the ones we tell and retell until we know them by heart.

This marvelous collection began innocently enough one wintry day when a student challenged Joe Wheeler to write a Christmas story. After composing his first story, he began recalling those his mother used to tell each year, and finding others, old and new. Years later, he now shares with us the best of his timeless treasury of heartwarming classics from the golden age of Christmas stories. Well-known authors such as Pearl S. Buck, Madeleine L'Engle, Taylor Caldwell, O. Henry, and Norman Vincent Peale offer their favorite tales.

Once you read Christmas in My Heart, your Christmas won't be the same without it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Review & Herald Publishing (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828014590
• ISBN-13: 978-0828014595
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,400,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read for Christmas, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas in My Heart, Bk 1 (Vol 1) (Paperback)

I have read several of the "Christmas In My Heart" Collections and find each worthwhile. While the stories are sentimental, they do remind the reader of the true meaning of Christmas. The stories vary in diversity, which is a great asset to this collection. Some are quite "old-fashioned" (19th century/early 20th century stories), while others are more recent. Some can be shared with small children, while others would greatly appeal to adults ("Meditation in a Minor Key" is my personal favorite). Reading this collection (or any of the other volumes)is a great way to unwind after a day spend shopping. The colleciton is a reminder of what our true focus should be on Christmas.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas in My Heart: a Timeless Treasury of Heartwarming S, December 6, 2001

By 

Connie Keibler (Everett, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas in My Heart: A Timeless Treasury of Heartwarming Stories (Hardcover)

I loved this book. It is a perfect Christmas book to get into the spirit of Christmas. I used it too read the stories to my children as an advent project. The stories are just the right length for children and speak to the heart. Adults and children alike will be touched by the stories compiled here

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthwhile Read, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas in My Heart, Bk 6 (Paperback)

I have read a few of the "Christmas In My Heart" Books, and I find each one worthwhile. Although the stories are very sentimental, Christmas, more than any other time of year, is a sentimental season. Probably the greatest asset of this collection (and the other volumes)is the diversity of the stories. The stories range from ones that can be shared with small children ("Small Things") to ones adults would enjoy ("Pandora's Books" in this volume and "Meditation in a Minor Key" in volume 1). While most of the stories are quite old (19th century/early 20th), there are also more recent ones ("Matthew, Mark, Luke,and John" - post Korean War). Each story is deeply moving and refocuses the reader's attention from the hassle of shopping and writing cards to the true meaning of Christmas. The stories are inspirational and heart warming.