Unwrapping Christmas | Lori Copeland | Slow down and enjoy Christmas with family

Unwrapping Christmas | Lori Copeland | A gift of hope

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Unwrapping Christmas

	Unwrapping Christmas Lori Copeland Zondervan, 2007 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, the true spirit of Christmas begins to emerge in unexpected ways for one woman as God shows her the true meaning of giving. Unwrapping Christmas is a Christmas story as heartwarming as the season itself.

Slow down and enjoy Christmas with family

Review
It's short, sweet and packs a powerful punch. Lori reveals through her main character, Rose, what loving one another looks like. Rose is challenged by another verse "Be still and know I am God." She is rarely still long enough to know God is God - too busy. Sound familiar? Another verse "Rest in His assurance." Rest? Who has time for that? Things women struggle with daily. Lori reveals God's love in action through Rose. This book will gently remind you in practical ways, how to love one another & rest in God's assurance at Christmas and always.

Before some chapters begin, Lori weaves the meaning of Advent, explains the symbols and what they represent. The treat at the end of the story is the Bergman's holiday traditional recipes talked about in the story.

Lastly, a powerful letter written by Karen Hancock titled Jesus Didn't Hurry. This letter sums up the message of Unwrapping Christmas. A must read.

Nora St. Laurent
Book Club ServantLeader
www.novelreviews.blogspot.com

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A gift of hope

I'm not a religious person but the story touched me. I recommend the book for the story and the Christmas season.

This short and sweet story reminds readers of the need to pay attention to what's most important, especially during the holidays

In UNWRAPPING CHRISTMAS, prolific novelist Lori Copeland spins a slim faith-filled story of an overloaded mom and the true meaning of the holiday.

Copeland's protagonist, Rose, is a 38-year-old mother with teens who doesn't know how to say no. "I guess I could" is her ever-present mantra when asked to do anything at church, at home, or for her Minnesota community. The tension of feeling that she needs to do "the Lord's work" is running her life. If anyone needs a casserole, a volunteer shift, a voice in the choir, or a shoulder to cry on, Rose is there to meet their needs. Anyone's needs, that is, but her own family's.

She knows Christmas "should be more than frantic activities, hectic crowds, and overworked husbands... it wasn't that she didn't want to slow down, but life got in the way... she was do busy doing Christmas, there wasn't time to experience Christmas."

As the story progresses, Rose's husband accuses her of neglecting her family. But, muses Rose, trouble had never touched them yet. After Christmas she promises herself that she'll get things back in order. After Christmas they'll eat dinner together, she'll have time to really talk with her kids, and she and Joey will get their marriage back to where it used to be. After Christmas....

But she finds herself praying, "Dear God, why do I feel so worn, so empty, so tired? I spend every waking moment doing what I can, but my efforts amount to sifted chaff, they're meaningless...." Shouldn't all her busy-ness be making her feel good? Over-committed readers will resonate.

As Rose continues to say "yes," you'll see what's coming. Of course, things fall apart before Christmas, and Rose is forced to come face to face with the consequences of her busy-ness. Anna is involved with a boy who is three years older and, from all appearances, not the sort of date Rose envisions for her daughter. Son Eric feels neglected and gets into trouble at school. Husband Joey works later and more often. The climax, when it comes, shows Rose that she doesn't have to run the world alone --- and that others can rise to the occasion when called on for help.

Even though all of her hustle and bustle is to do good deeds, or do things for God, Rose finally realizes that she has neglected the most crucial to-do list of all --- making time for what is most important. Or, as her husband tells her when she finally hits the wall and can't do another thing: "Let someone else experience the blessing of helping out. You're hogging it all."

Copeland sermonizes a little, especially when Joey lectures Rose about her do-good habits after an accident, and the story loses steam in the last quarter. The formatting is uneven throughout the book, which I found odd; some chapters begin with a beautiful screened art candle and trivia about Christmas, others do not. The end of the novel is padded with recipes, a letter from another author on the life of Christ and a sample chapter from an upcoming Copeland book.

If you are looking for a priority check for the Christmas season, or if you are the type of woman who gets over-committed during the holidays, you may find this story a timely reminder of what is most important. And there's no time like the Christmas season to reassess priorities and commit to New Year's resolutions about saying "no" to good things sometimes, when they keep us from caring for those we love.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

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New Perspective

Has Christmas become one long toilsome to-do list jammed packed with needa-do, oughta-do, but you don't want to do? Do you dread this time of year?

Well, join the club.

In Unwrapping Christmas, Rose is worn out! Stressed to the limit, she is trying to please everyone who asks her to do something, from hosting the family holiday dinner to helping out at church functions. Her family is reduced to eating take-out dinners every night, her children have run amok, and her husband is nagging her about never being home anymore.
But what's a good God-fearing Christian woman to do? Say no to people in need?

Lori Copeland reminds us to unwrap the self-imposed layers we put around Christmas to re-discover its true blessings. Initially I thought this book was going to be a sappy yuletide read. I was mistaken. Copeland tackles a lot in this short story: illness, drug use, judging, wayward children, and finding balance by knowing when to say "no" and mean it.

I recommend this story to anyone who has missed the true meaning of this holiday season.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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