The Three Nights of Christmas

It’s that time of the year where we gather with friends and family to celebrate Christmas and to tie a bow on the year that was.

2020 has been an interesting year, as the Chinese would say, and few will be sad to see it end. But even though this was a challenging year, 2020 was not without its highlights:

Many of us spent far more time with our families than we might otherwise have done.

We met our neighbors and discovered corners of our communities we had no idea existed.

We learned how to pivot and attend meetings in our PJs, and we heard a great song.

We learned to be resilient and we also learned that it’s okay not to be okay every single day.

A small gift

Since this Christmas feels different, I’ve been casting about for a special way to mark the occasion.

In the past few days I have written something for my kids to read at the dinner table. It’s the story of Christmas told three ways. It’s rough and I don’t have a better name for it than “The Three Nights of Christmas.” [Link visible to email subscribers only.]

If you have children or grandchildren, you may want to pick one, two, or all three of these readings and read them as a family in the lead-up to the big day. It should be a lot of fun and laughs.

And a big thank you

I want to thank all of you who got my new book The Silent Queen last week. Thanks to you, the book hit the number one new release in a bunch of categories. My heartfelt prayer is that this book will enrich your marriage, strengthen your family, and help your church shine.

You don’t make a lot of money writing books. Not when you give many of them away. That I can write full time while giving away thousands of books each year testifies to the ongoing generosity of those who support me via Donorbox and Patreon. In particular, I would like to thank the following patrons who have shared the journey this year:

Aaron Ashby, Abhishek Chougule, Adam Goldfinch, Adam Tanti, Adriaan Hattingh, Al Babcock , Al Jennings, Alejandro Cantu, Alex Thomas, Alison Gilbert, Alonzo Garcia, Amanda Henderson, Andre de Haan, Andrew Maulding, Andy Manuel, Aney Mathew, Angela Golingi , Anna Thevaos, Annalee Reyes, Anne H. Hoover, Anne Lyttle, Anthony Collins, Arie Duister, Ashley Guzman, Asit Parida, Bank Akinmola, Ben Dailey, Benny Sunjaya, Beverly Bowman, Bik Hou, Bill Fowler, Bill Pruitt, Bill Shoemaker, Bob Baker, Bob Fricke, Bob Paroski, Bobby Jean Perry, Bonnie Weaver, Brandon Petrowski, Brandon Scott, Brian Jones, Brian Page, Brocton Rye, Bruce Fulton, Bruce Leane, Bruno Dammann, Burandt Adam , Caleb Brubaker, Carl & Sara Petee, Carol Cronin, Carolyn Coates, Cary Geno, Cathy Barnett, Cecil H. Paxton, Cecilia Lim, Cesar & Anna, Chad M. Mansbridge, Charles & Sheilla van Wijk, Cherine Rossman, Chris Esparza, Christopher Gordon, Christopher Johnson, Claude (Bill) Schanuel, Cliff, Clint Byars, Collins K. Raj, Connie-Louise Alexander, Corinna von der Mahlen, Cory Smith, Craig Hunt, Crisostomo L. Martin, Cristopher Suyam, Dale Edwards, Dana Daigle, Daniel Clarke, Danielle Cronje, Danilo Schehrer, Dave Orrison, Dave Parrish, Dave Tremblay, David Aaleskjaer, David Abique, David Cheong, David Edwardds, David Nelson, David S., David Slayback, David Sztrimbely, David Wong, David York, Dawn Strom, Debby Katz, Deborah Long, Debra Hardy, Deirdre M. Rogers, Denise, Denise Kaitala, Dennis & Denise Capra, Derrick Darden, Diane & Eli Listort, Diane Kitson, Diane Peterson, Diane Roman, Diane Schakola, Dollice Chua, Don Beeson, Donna Sweigart, Dottie Hicks, Ed Anderson, Ed Crenshaw, Ed Elliott, Ed N. Diane Pacheco, Eddie C. Livingston P.E., Edward McCarthy, Elaine DeLones, Elly Kraai, Emanuel Bulugu, Eric & Nancy Holman, Eric Thon, Erik Grangaard, Erika & Klaus Degen, Esther van Dijk, Fayrene Sherritt, Frederick Johannes Botha, Garry D. Pifer, Gary Wells, Geoff Powell, Georg Zonnchen, Geraldine Unger, Gerry Macabuhay, Gilbert Gatdula, Gilly Stott, Ginger Banks, Giselle Russell-Clarke, Glenda B. Crawford, Gord Penner, Grace Grace, Graham Irwin, Greg Morneau, Greg & Raelene Race, Gregory K. Hinkle, Hannah Hoffmann, Hayley Jordan, Heather Gill, Helen Kearney, Helen Leafa, Henry HS. Yeo, Ian Wright, Ilva Sturlese, Jack & Janet Surrett, James Davis, James Goss, James Kerr, James Miller, James Mullier, James Thompson, James W. Smith, James Yaranon, Jan Botten, Jana Mings, Jane Hunckler, Janice Best Bright, Jarod & Anita Darashah-Borman, Jason Eugene, Jason foo, Jax Hill, J. Bradley & Marlene Reed, J.B. Lardizabal, Jeffrey, Jenifer Powell, Jennifer Herkommer, Jer Wei Low, Jerry Weinhausen, Jerry Williams, Jim Firzlaff, Jim Gaines, Jim Powell, Joe May, John Adriaans, John Gardner, John Williams, Jon & Shannon Bonner, Jon Onabowu, Jonathan Gould, JoNell, Jordan Hammond, Joseph Adedeji, Josh Ball, Joyce Rapier, Juan Batule Cabana, Judy C. Ervien, Judy Krug, Julia Vockrodt, Justin Hopper, Karen Moffett, Kath Wells, Kathleen Ault, Kathy Haecker, Katie Bearden, Keith Forwith, Keith Pinke, Ken Spicer, Kenneth Crum, Kenneth Saul, Kent Gilge, Kevin McAllister, Kim Gehring, Kimberly Grigsby, Kimberly Russell, Kitty Kata, KL. Oei, Ko Fi, KP. Wong, Kristi Gorrod, Larissa Hamel, Larry & Helen Wilgus, Laurence Brill, Leon C. Bramlett III, Leonard John Ransil, Lew Gervais, Lewis Sage, Lidia, Linda Essaff, Linda Gerrard, Lisa Reveley, Liz Collard, Lloyd D. McCaskill, Lois Granbery, Lukas Vorberg, Lyle Geck, Lyn Packer, Lynn Alford, Lynne Logan-Pye, M. Caleb Sannoh, Marg & Merv Knott, Margaret Eargle, Margaret Miller, Maria Sanders, Marie, Marie Robison, Marion Carter, Mark & Mary Beth Cain, Mark Wolfe, Marnie, Marshall Kim, Mary Ellen Serafine, Mary Salisbury, Mathavan Rajkumar, Mel and Clare Sanders, Melanie Theilig, Melissa Okonski, Melissa Shands, Mia Young, Michael Folsom, Michael Gragg, Michael & Julie Lipparelli, Michael Kelehan, Michael & Kim Vizza, Michael Miller, Michael Morimando, Michael Scroggs, Michelle, Michelle Cormier, Michelle Lavette French, Mikael Jonsson, Millie Morrison, Moses S. M. Kawuma, Nancy Paquette Poulin, Nata Isr, Neal Hall, Nelson, Nick Atkins, Nizam Khan, Norah Brown, Norin Lumungking-Weier & Justin Weier, Oladipo Awoyinfa, Ore Ijinigba, Oscar Rios, Pagasa De Mesa, Patricia Walker, Patty VanderVeen, Paul & Chantale Roxanas, Paul Burton, Paul F. Eilers, Paul Goodwin, Paul Phang, Paul S. Frey, Paul Woodrich, Penny Creery, Peta Donegan, Peter, Peter Brosnan, Peter Dybing, Peter M. Claffey, Philip Yutzy, Prince, Rachelle Reeve, Rachmat Permana, Ralph Kassen, Randall George, Randall Harmon, Randy & Julee Armstrong, Randy & Shandra Montague, Raymond Glossop, Real Paquette, Rebekah K. Watson, Red Burgos, Rene Bouwer, Renee Woodward, Rhea Cooper, Richard F. De Souza, Richard Lee, Richard W. Evans, Rick Cowdery, Rick & Judi Manis, Ricky L. Cain, Rita Collins, Rob Blanshard, Robert Jones, Robert Marshall, Robin Waller, Roland Stamey, Ron Clark, Ron Roudebush, Ronan, Roshan Easo, Ruth Coulthard, S. H. Lee, S. Kunnath, Sam Bouwer, Samia Causley, Samuel Lowell, Sara Wilson Hughes, Sarah, Sharon Collins, Sharon Stark, Shelly Hakspiel, Si Na, Simon Brown, Solly San Juan, Stella Emmanuel, Stephanie Kirtland, Stephanie Turney, Stephen Caldwell, Steve Espamer, Steve & Sandra McCollom, Steven J. Shane, Steven Mann, Sue Crissman, Sue Gardner, Susan Coleman, Susan Scalisi, Susie Dunlap, Tamara Barker, Tanya Nareau, Ted Nelson, Terry Maupin, Terry and Janelle Myers, Terry Tripp, Tertia Oosthuizen, Theodore Heintzelman, Theresa M. Benischek, Thierry Bras, Tina McIntire, Tom & Kay Stocking, Tom Ludemann, Tom Tepandi, Tommy, Tony Cutty, Tony Ide, Tony Vogel, Toshiko Johnson, Travis Taylor, Trevor Lovegrove, Trice Seargent, Wesley Matsell, Will McCulloch, William Conroy, William Lowery, and Yvonne Beukes.

I would also like to acknowledge those who give anonymously. You know who you are. For your generosity, I am truly and profoundly grateful. Your support is changing lives.

May your family enjoy the peace and favor of God as we celebrate the birth of our King and Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Paul