Inspirational Fictional Writing

Back to Inspirational Fictional Writing main page

The Night Before Christmas
by Barb Prosser Winder

A loud clunk on the hardwood floor aroused Lil Campbell from her late afternoon catnap. The photo box she’d been holding on her lap had slipped from her curled fingers, to land unceremoniously at her feet, spilling the contents and startling Lil to attention.

“What on earth?” she said aloud, to the walls and furniture that surrounded her worn leather recliner. The dimming light disoriented her for a few seconds, while she got her bearings, gradually remembering what she’d been thinking on these past few hours.

It was Christmas Eve, and Lil had opted to spend the time before their candle-light service at church, reliving precious memories she’d gathered over the years as a mother and wife. Over the span of nearly five decades she and her husband Paul had raised a fine family of 7 boys and if she closed her eyes, she could picture little tow-heads scrambling to the tree in the early hours of dawn, while the oldest sent the baby to wake up Mom and Dad. You just couldn’t hold them back once the first son had realized the time was here to open what lay beneath their eight-foot fir Christmas tree.

All of her boys had long since grown and with job opportunities calling them to different parts of the country, Christmas celebrations meant making conference calls and listening to grandkids cooing and laughing over the telephone wires. In the earlier years, those who could, would pack up and travel the miles to the old farmhouse they knew as “home”. Lil would anxiously wait to hold grandbabies and spoil them with old-fashioned love.

But with time came change and now with teens and tots still growing, family Christmas meant that her seven sons spent their time off at home with their own kids, creating their own memory boxes. Lil’s husband Paul had passed away a couple of years ago and even though Lil knew he was not suffering from a cruel disease any longer, the loss she felt tugged a little stronger during this beloved season. God knew her heart’s longing and maybe one of these years her dream would come true.

Lil and all seven boys had talked a lot about the gang coming home this year, but after trying to juggle schedules, Lil told them all that she would be “just fine” and not to worry about her. Her friends from her senior’s group and her church family would see that she wasn’t alone on Christmas. That’s what good friends did for each other, and country folk seemed extra inclined to help out.

There was just one thing that still rattled around in her “grandmotherly” mind; after six of seven boys having all sons, the youngest had broken the cycle and her first grand-daughter (who was now 6 months old) was waving chubby fingers at the web cam whenever Lil went online to chat with Timothy and his wife Emma. It was miraculous to finally have a little girl to hold and love and no doubts about it; she would be spoiled by anyone who looked into those sweet blue eyes.

Bending down to pick up the old wooden box and scattered photos, Lil jumped again at the ringing of the telephone that was peeking out of her apron pocket. She knew that when one least expected, someone would call.

“Hello, Lil here”. For one split second the line was quiet and Lil’s overactive imagination conjured up thoughts of…

“Lil, are you ready for the service at church?” asked Helen, Lil’s best friend and closest neighbour. “I’ll be around to pick you up at 6:30 if that’s okay”.

Lil’s heartbeat settled back to normal as she assured Helen she was all set and couldn’t wait to hear the children’s choir perform for members and guests of First Community Church in the tiny township of Blairston. Janet, youth director and music teacher for both the school and church family, had put in many overtime hours with the little ones this year. It was always one of the highlights for the entire congregation.

As Lil tidied her sitting room, she admired the decorations that her ladies’ Bible Study group had helped her put out a couple of weeks ago. Over the years, her sons had given her and Paul a collection of electric candles and each one had been lovingly placed in her front windows, lighting up the night with a welcoming glow. No matter that Lil was living in this big old house alone, the ambience from the shimmering snow on the front lawn spoke of warmth and love within.

As she added another log to her wood insert corner fireplace that Paul had put in one year as a family Christmas gift, Lil heard Helen’s car pull into the driveway. Making sure the door was firmly closed on the air-tight stove, Lil grabbed her coat and scarf, slipped on her fur-lined boots and turned the key in the front door. Snow was leaving a fresh dusting on the evergreens that stood guard around the two-acre property and the air was alive with… something. Lil couldn’t put her finger on it but there seemed to be extra sparkle tonight. She glanced upward and knew that Paul must be smiling down on her to cause these feelings to stir in her heart. “Oh, how I miss you”. Lil brushed away a stray tear just as she opened the passenger door on Helen’s Toyota Corolla.

“How did you get the time in today Lil?” A question that Lil knew was coming and was again touched by the thoughtfulness and caring of her dearest friend.

“I’ve been baking. You know me, what’s Christmas without my famous shortbread cookies? I plunked a few dozen in the freezer but kept a platter out to have in case company shows up”

Lil thought she noticed a grin on Helen’s face and wasn’t surprised to hear her reply, “The ladies did think that you might have a spare cookie or two, to go along with a nice pot of Earl Gray, if you didn’t mind us coming over after the service that is”. In her good friend’s way, the comment was a statement rather than a question and that suited Lil just fine.

As they neared the church parking lot, Lil wondered at the amount of cars lining the street on both sides, creating a bit of a bottle-neck for folks hoping to get a good seat for the service and then heading back home to tuck their sleepy-eyed toddlers in bed.

“We’ll park over in Edith’s driveway. She had mentioned earlier today that I could and I’m glad. Would you look at all these cars Lil? This must be a record turnout”.

Lil’s mind once again swirled, bringing about a few more tears, but with God’s strength she was able to push them back as she stepped out, pulling her scarf a bit closer to her chin, protecting against the chill from the night air that settled around her.

Handshakes, Christmas greetings and kindly smiles, mingled with strains of traditional carols met each one entering the front doors of the century-old building. Helen waited until Lil was seated in her usual pew and then proceeded to make her way back to the nursery. Lil was content to sit and enjoy the flow coming in. This was the perfect end to the night before the birth of their Saviour, those many years ago.

Even though her pew was still empty, Pastor Lewis was stepping up to the podium, asking everyone to open their hymnals to song number 155. As pages rustled, Lil scanned the sanctuary and noticed that extra chairs had been put in the back for latecomers. Before she had time to wonder why that was, the pianist played the introduction to “Joy to the World” and voices rang to the rafters.

Lil had her eyes closed and was remembering another Christmas Eve, when she heard a familiar yet startling tenor voice reaching those higher notes with ease. It sounded like…no, it couldn’t be. Surely they would have told her. But, Lil slightly turned her head to have a look, and there, making his way into her pew, was Timothy, with little Jenny in his arms and Emma peeking around his shoulder.

“It’s a miracle” Lil marvelled out loud, as more of the Campbell clan followed Tim and Emma. Her oldest son John, the owner of that powerful tenor, was the last to enter and by this time Lil’s mouth could only hang open in sheer shock. The music had stopped and all eyes were filled with tears as Lil took in the reality that was happening right before her eyes.

“How did you? I mean, how did this happen? I can’t believe it—am I dreaming?” asked an astonished Lil Campbell as her entire family stood in her pew and down the aisle and right out into the foyer. All eyes were trained on Lil as she shed the tears that had been just below the surface the past few hours.

As all twenty-three members of her incredible family beamed with laughter, Pastor Lewis tapped the microphone on his lapel, clearing his throat and asking, “Could we begin that song again? I think our latest arrivals will fill out our congregational choir quite nicely, don’t you Lil?”

If ever a Christmas Eve could turn into a living miracle, this was it and one that she would forever remember as her very own answered Christmas prayer. Having her entire family home for a Campbell celebration was beyond even her wildest imaginings. What must Paul be thinking right now?

“I wish you were here sweetheart”, whispered Lil as Joy to the World was sung and praises were lifted toward Heaven. Joy for Lil had come early. Tomorrow she would get to know her grandkids a little better, hug her own a little tighter and thank the good Lord for his tremendous blessings in her life.

Good things came in all sizes and a family of twenty-three was the perfect number for Lil.