Friday • December 23 • 2016 • BrainerdDispatch.com
Stories Of Christmas On the following pages, you’ll find the winners of the Brainerd Dispatch’s annual Stories of Christmas contest. There were three categories: Kids, Teens and Adults. Weather drawings submitted by local elementary school children are being used as accents to go along with the winning stories.
Thanks to all who took the time to submit their stories. Enjoy reading and Merry Christmas!
On Christmas Watch 1
st
Joseph Coalwell, Brainerd
The night was still as he gazed out across the landscape. A light fog hung in the air with each breath, providing the only company he hoped for this Christmas Eve. Like a family member being received for the party, each listless breath slowly dispersed into the night as another arrived in its place. The young soldier’s eyes traversed slowly as he surveyed the bleak terrain. In the distance he spotted a small child taking refuge under a tree, playing peacefully with a doll. A peculiar sight in the eyes of anyone else. The blackness of the night began to ease as blue and green lights adorning the small, yet proud, pine illuminated the horizon. The child played alone, but was content in his solitude. The orange glow of a small fire flickered brilliantly off of the tinsel, dancing gleefully along a shroud of warmth that surrounded the boy. A soft breeze passed through the branches carrying the scents of freshly baked ham and apple pie towards the tower. The soldier inhaled deeply as he savored the aroma. Beyond the berm he could hear the faint ringing of bells. Gradually, the bells faded into joyful voices carrying familiar Christmas carols from afar. The chorus was pleasant, but distracting. This was his watch and his focus was on the boy. Would he be all right? The young soldier squinted intensely, trying to bring his vision into sharper focus. He watched as the child moved the small soldiers limbs around, testing the agility of his new gift. He could see that the child loved the soldier and beamed when he hugged it tightly. And as quickly as his breath dispersed, the night was still once more.
Home
Weather drawing by Kiera Warta of Mrs. Narlock's second-grade class at Lowell Elementary School.
The Mother of Jesus
1
1
Santa’s sick
st
st
Place teen
Place kids
Natalie Smith, Baxter
Molly Wells, Baxter
Dec. 25th is a date that comes every year and each year we follow the Christmastime rituals: decorate the tree, hang up the stockings, play in the snow, bake cookies and watch jolly movies. These bring all of us that feeling of merriment that only the holidays can bring, but sometimes we forget about the true meaning of the Christmas season: Jesus. This wonderful holiday only occurs because he was born in a manger, brought into the world by his mother, who was the first tabernacle of Jesus Christ. This is where my story begins … My family and I were sitting at mass last year, around the beginning of Advent. The priest told us a story of a man who
Place adult
“Achoo!” “Santa, dear, you look like you’re sick,” said Mrs. Claus. “Ho, ho, ho! Could you
The season
get me some hot cocoa and shortbread cookies?” “Yes, dear.” Mrs. Claus walked into the kitchen. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Look at the time. It’s nearly 10 o’clock!” Santa had overheard. He started worrying. “Sweetie, could you saddle up the reindeer?” he said politely. Mrs. Claus felt bad for Santa. “Nicholas, I’m so sorry,
but I don’t think that Christmas can go on this year! Achoo! Oh no! Now I have the flu!” Mrs. Claus said, feeling sick. “And I don’t!” Santa said happily. “I’ll make you some coffee and pancake.” That night, Santa made it to all the children’s houses and you might be one of them! One year later… “Achoo!” Here we go again!
Weather drawing by Amber Fleischhacker of Mrs. Meyer’s third-grade class at Harrison Elementary School. prayed the rosary every day during World War II. He then challenged us to pray the rosary every day during that Advent to prepare for Christmas. My first thought was that I didn’t have enough time to pray the entire rosary, every day. But as the days went on and my family and I gathered in the living room each night, taking only 10 or 15 minutes to pray, a waterfall of peace slowly washed over me. I was excited for Christmas, but not for the material reasons I had been other
years. This year, I was excited for Jesus to come. I can now look back on that Christmas and know that it was by far the most wonderful Christmas I’ve ever had. By praying and preparing your heart for the coming of Jesus Christ, you will take on a whole new outlook of Christmas. As you gaze upon the tree, or catch snowflakes on your tongue, remember the reason began when the mother of Jesus brought him into the world. Her name was Mary.
Ho Ho Ho Weather drawing by Nevaeh Lindquist Cagle of Mrs. Narlock's
second-grade class at Lowell Elementary School.