“Fiction reveals the truth that reality obscures.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this season of celebration, we want to wrap up this month of A Marriage Carol and take some time to remember why fiction matters. Our favorite Christmas stories, movies, books and songs matter because they often resound with truth in a world that obscures it. Here are some quotes from our favorite Christmas fiction that remind us of the lessons these stories teach us.

A Marriage Carol

Marlee is challenged in A Marriage Carol to learn generosity with her love. As she considers the past, present, and future of her marriage, an older woman reminds her:

“One choice changes the construction of a life. You’ll never experience the joy and tenderness of a lifelong love unless you fight for it.”

Thanks to Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman for giving us such a wonderful story of redemption this season!

A Christmas Carol

In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we are reminded of the generosity so often forgotten throughout the year (and often guiltily remembered at Christmas). As Scrooge learns through the visits of the three spirits:

“Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” said Scrooge. “But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!”

The story is ultimately one of redemption, reminding us that all can be redeemed, even in the most hopeless place.

The Best Book of All

Before we finish this Christmas post, let’s take a moment to remember the best book of all – not fiction, but one that can reveal truth more powerfully than anything else. Continue reading / Leave a comment…

We’ve had a lot of fun talking about A Marriage Carol this month – it’s easy to get carried away talking about this beautiful, modern-day remake of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. But today we want to dedicate some time to our other favorite Christmas stories. Here are a few (in our minds) of the best classic Christmas movies, books, and TV specials, plus our favorite Christmas quotes from each one.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (TV Special)

Dismayed by the commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown seeks to find hope in a Christmas nativity. Throughout the TV special (the first-ever Peanuts special), Charlie and friends find new meanings to the holiday.

Favorite quote: “Da-da-dum-da-da-da-dum-daaaah.” (It’s the song! Can you hum it?)

2. A Christmas Story (Movie)

Ralphie, a boy growing up in the 1940′s, tries to convince his parents that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas present. After being told “You’ll shoot your eye out,” one too many times, Ralphie is not happy. Not even an essay will convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa Claus that he should get a BB gun for Christmas.

Favorite quote: “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

3. While You Were Sleeping (Movie)

From Deb: This is a movie I love to see at holiday time. When Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a single woman alone at Christmas, saves a stranger’s life and is mistaken by his family for his fiance, the comedy begins. Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pulman), suspects Lucy’s secret and, in his attempts to reveal it, falls for her. Continue reading / Leave a comment…