Hugs for the Holidays: Stories, Sayings, and Scriptures to Encourage and Inspire [Paperback]

In the fast pace of the holiday season, everyone needs to be reminded to slow down and remember the reason for the season. This special holiday book is filled with uplifting, touching hugs to warm the heart and make this season more meaningful. Warm stories by the beloved storyteller John William Smith, personalized scriptures by LeAnn Weiss, uplifting quotes by various well-known people, and inspirational messages by an “anonymous disciple” come together to form enduring hugs that warm the heart.John Smithwrote five books in the Hugs series. In addition toHugs for Mom,he authoredHugs for Dad,Hugs to Encourage and Inspire,Hugs for the Hurting,andHugs for the Holidays.He has been a preacher and teacher for more than forty years and taught public school at the junior and senior high level; he also taught at the college and university level. He is an in-demand speaker for graduations, as well as for athletic, education, fund-raising events. He and his wife, Kila, live in Huntsville, Oklahoma, and his three adult children are scattered about the country.“Mama! Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home for Christmas!”

The door opened again, and this time it wasthrownopen. A woman dressed in a bathrobe and house slippers came running down the steps, her hair flying in the wind, oblivious to the snow and the cold.

“Oh, Carl, you’re home! The kids and I have been praying every day that somehow God would send you home.”

They kissed and hugged and laughed and cried, and they danced in the cold and the snow until the soldier finally disentangled himself long enough to introduce me.

“This is John,” he said. “He’s a Christian, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”

Jesus comes to us in many ways. He came to me in the form of a freezing soldier trying to get home for Christmas. He will come to you this l“9