I love stories retold from a different character’s viewpoint--thank you for this reimagining! I love the ordinary-ness you brought to the forefront, and the belief in love at the end: I’d never heard Mary’s “yes” phrased as a strong belief in love, and I really like that perspective. (I’d always heard it as obedience.)
At the line “How strange. Then again, everything about this idea was strange”, a core memory of mine unlocked. Growing up, my church would do a kids’ musical every Christmas, and one year we did one called “Angel Alert!” My favorite song was a lovely arrangement of “A Strange Way to Save the World”, which I later learned is a 4Him song. The musical had the angels narrate in the verses as Mary and Joseph sang the chorus as a duet, and I think the song stuck with me because I think it was the first time in my life (as a 5th/6th grader) that I saw the Christmas story described in ordinary terms, like your story today did, Shannon. I was able to find the version of the song I remember on YouTube, if children singing is up your alley: https://youtu.be/LSkHTmMjtMc?si=bJo4ahrOlD0Ltx8U
Also, the chicken photoshoot was delightful and hilariously brilliant!
I've never heard that song, but it's very sweet and I absolutely love that you have a clear memory of it being an "aha!" moment for you. Such a special thing to hold onto from childhood.
It was a helpful practice for me. The same old stories can be hard to reimagine, but I think they're worth rehandling every year. So this was a way I could do it!
This was such a wonderful read and then the chickens just cracked me up. Thanks for the depth and the chuckles.
Haha I like to keep a balance around here!
Agreed! I love Catholic women who pray and play equally hard. ❤️
This is so vividly beautiful.
I appreciate that! It was a fun writing exercise for me.
Original. Thank you, Shannon.
Thanks Mike!
Beautiful. Great way to wake up on a Saturday and refocus on beauty of the season.
I also enjoy reading a good Substack in bed on Saturday mornings!
Gorgeous. I just love your writing, and you opened layers upon layers here.
love you. thanks babe.
I love stories retold from a different character’s viewpoint--thank you for this reimagining! I love the ordinary-ness you brought to the forefront, and the belief in love at the end: I’d never heard Mary’s “yes” phrased as a strong belief in love, and I really like that perspective. (I’d always heard it as obedience.)
At the line “How strange. Then again, everything about this idea was strange”, a core memory of mine unlocked. Growing up, my church would do a kids’ musical every Christmas, and one year we did one called “Angel Alert!” My favorite song was a lovely arrangement of “A Strange Way to Save the World”, which I later learned is a 4Him song. The musical had the angels narrate in the verses as Mary and Joseph sang the chorus as a duet, and I think the song stuck with me because I think it was the first time in my life (as a 5th/6th grader) that I saw the Christmas story described in ordinary terms, like your story today did, Shannon. I was able to find the version of the song I remember on YouTube, if children singing is up your alley: https://youtu.be/LSkHTmMjtMc?si=bJo4ahrOlD0Ltx8U
Also, the chicken photoshoot was delightful and hilariously brilliant!
I've never heard that song, but it's very sweet and I absolutely love that you have a clear memory of it being an "aha!" moment for you. Such a special thing to hold onto from childhood.
A beautiful and wise reimagining of the Mary event in time for Christmas : how the ordinary and extraordinary are coupled and complement each other.
Grateful that you spent time with it!
This gave me goosebumps, so beautiful as it observes and builds up to the moment!
It was a helpful practice for me. The same old stories can be hard to reimagine, but I think they're worth rehandling every year. So this was a way I could do it!