The holiday season is a time for connection: to our faith, to our loved ones, and to the traditions that bring meaning to our lives. For Sharon, this season wouldn’t feel complete without revisiting Gene Edwards’ The Birth, a powerful retelling of the Christmas story. In her words, here’s Sharon’s musings on this beloved book:

Throughout the years, this is a book I have gone back to again and again during the holiday season. Author Gene Edwards tells the story of Christ’s birth as seen from both realms ~ heaven, as well as earth. The Birth is the third in the series The Chronicles of Heaven. Edwards is such a good storyteller…and I do love a good story!

The Birth has become a popular telling of the Bethlehem story. The drama begins in the heavens, prior to the birth of John the Baptist. The skies have turned to brass, separating the heavens from the earth. The Archangel Michael and Lucifer engage in a battle, as Michael fights to rip open the brass skies to allow prayers of Elizabeth to reach the throne of God. From that point on the story never slows down. It’s an “edge-of-your-seat saga of the Christmas story like you have never read!”

Even though I have read this book many times, it remains one of my favorite stories ~ and one I want to read from start to finish, without pause.

For Sharon, rereading The Birth has become a cherished holiday ritual, blending the old with the new — honoring the timeless story of Christ’s birth while finding personal meaning in Edwards’ unique telling. Her tradition is a beautiful reminder of how rituals, whether passed down through generations or created anew, bring comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging.

During this bustling season, many of the world’s major religions come alive with vibrant traditions — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, and more. But not all rituals are religious. The dehydrating of orange slices to make decorative garlands or the yearly baking of a beloved familial cookie recipe are some that come to mind for me. Others take the time to volunteer at a local food pantry, watch the same wintry movies, or reread a favorite book that feels like a sort of homecoming.

The joy of ritual is its ability to ground us, remind us of what matters, and connect us to something greater — whether it is a faith, one’s family, or the quiet magic of lighting a candle in the dark.

What traditions do you cherish? We would love to hear your stories in the comments. Let’s celebrate the unique and beautiful ways we all care for ourselves through the joy of ritual.