Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas Season—A Time for Giving



Christmas is a season of giving, a time when we show our love to others. During this season, how many times have we thought about giving of ourselves? The importance of serving others can never be over-emphasized. The measure of our love shows in what we do for one another. Just being there and being supportive can bring so much joy to others. There are many opportunities to help those who are feeling down, depressed, or alone, and need our support. It is not where we serve, but how we serve, and we must serve with love. We have our rewards when we serve, rewards that will bring us great joy.

In 1945, a young soldier sat in the trenches, trying to keep warm. Every night the enemy would attack precisely at midnight. He would hear their footsteps just before battle and knew what was about to happen. There were many wounded from the last battle and now it was Christmas Eve. His comrades were blue and depressed. Everyone was thinking of home and their loved ones, just wishing the war would end. The young soldier could feel their needs and his heart went out to them. The only gift he could think of to give his comrades was to sing, hoping to uplift their spirits and give them hope.

The young soldier began singing “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” with feeling and fervor. Every note he sang was clear and beautiful. The soldiers stopped what they were doing and listened. Next he sang “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” and “The First Noel.” He continued singing one Christmas song after another. Every one listened, including the enemy not far off. Many hearts were touched, silent prayers were said, and there was no battle that night but complete silence…for the exception of one lone voice singing Christmas songs.

Christmas is a season of giving, so I would like to show my thankfulness to all my friends by giving a few books away for Christmas. "Melinda and the Wild West" and "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" are the first two books in this series: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho. To find out what each book is about, visit my website and read the synopsis and a sample chapter at Make Believe. I will e-mail the winners on December 16th. Watch for more Give-Aways during the following year.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool, Count me in :-)

Suko said...

I've posted about this. :)

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, Linda. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

clenna said...

Sounds good - I'd love either book.

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I'm a follower too : )

Anonymous said...

Thanks for having a holiday book drawing.
Please enter me for Edith and the Mysterious Stranger. Helen Kiker

hdkiker@comcast.net

Virginia C said...

Hi, Ms. Clarke! Happy Holidays! Thank you for this lovely giveaway. Please enter my name in the drawing for "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger".

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

ossmcalc said...

Please enter me. I would love to have either of the books.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

KR said...

I'd love either book.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

New follower.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Carla Ribeiro said...

They both sound great. Please count me in.

carianmoonlight at gmail dot com

BookHounds said...

Hi Linda -- I posted this over at my blog!
http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-giveaway-at-linda-weaver-clarkes.html

Jan said...

Thanks for an awesome giveaway. These books sound very interesting. Please count me in.

alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

Jan said...

I am a new follower.

Yvonne said...

I'd love to be entered into this one and I'm a follower!

yvone473[at]optonline[dot]net

scottsgal said...

These look wonderful - I'm a follower

msboatgal at aol.com

starr said...

Saw you in Greeley...Love the books..you gave such good ideas for recording and/or writing stories. I was very impressed. Thank you
Starr

Anonymous said...

I follow/subscribe via Google Reader.
I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to you too! I love the holidays!

Thanks for the giveaway. I too want to be entered.

bsyb100 at gmail dot com

mariska said...

i love to give the book to my friend who celebrates christmas.

Please count me in !

uniquas at ymail dot com

Mozi Esme said...

Would love a chance to read these!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Mozi Esme said...

And I'm a new follower!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I would be happy with either book! Please enter me for a chance to win. Thanks!

bevsclark at gmail dot com

Mayra Calvani said...

Enter me, please! i'd love to win.

Tamsyn said...

Please throw my name in the hat! Thank you for the chance to win.

Happy holidays!
tamsyn5@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

Unknown said...

I would love to win Edith's book! Thanks!!!

queenoftheclan@gmail.com

JoanneR said...

Thank you for the chance to win one of your wonderful books!
joannereynolds@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

Would love to read one of your fabulous books...Merry Christmas

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

lag123 said...

I would love to read them! Please enter me and thank you for having this giveaway. Merry Christmas!

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I am now a follower.

lag110@mchsi.com

Linda said...

I love family sagas, and lucky me, I've already won "Melinda" in a previous giveaway. I really need this second book in the series.
Thanks for the giveaway.

Book Dragon said...

Merry Christmas! I'd love to win "Melinda and the Wild West"

I subscribe via Google Reader & I've added you to my blog roll

misskallie2000 said...

I am a follower..

Both books sound great so either one would be OK with me.. I am an avid reader for over 50 yrs.

misskallie2000 said...

I subscribe via Google Reader & I've added you to my blog roll.

Thanks for the opportnuity to enter.

Either book will work for me..Both sound like good reads.

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda, thanks for doing this, I would like to be entered

Thanks!!

Debbie

debbiestark2000@yahoo.com

sharon54220 said...

All of your books sound great.

Thanks for the chance.

I am also a follower.

sharon54220@gmail.com

Suko said...

I also posted this in my sidebar. : )

Tanis S said...

This is great, thank you very much! I'm in! :)

tanandjosh@telus.net

Tanis S said...

And for an extra entry, I'm following your blog. Can't wait to catch up and read your posts, thank you!

tanandjosh@telus.net

Linda Weaver Clarke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Thank you, Everyone, for participating in this fun Give-Away. I'll be having more Give-Aways next year. So check my blog every now and then to see what is going on. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!