Breakfast with a friend turned teary when I opened the Christmas gift she’d brought me. She gave me proper warning, “I saw it and it said your name.”

It had the spine of a journal, but the worn cover of a book, “A Study of the Short Story.”

Correctly reading the confused look on my face she said, “Open it.”

Attached to the first page by a wax seal and the imprint of the cross was the explanation of the journal. Junk Town Revival, the creator of the journal, wrote that it had once been a vintage book in poor condition.

The restoration process involved breaking down the book retaining the cover and undamaged pages, adding journal pages, and binding the redeemed book with a metal coil.

The message continued, “It is our hope that this journal inspires you to write, create, draw… But more importantly, it is our hope that this journal will remind you that we are all a dirty, broken, damaged mess! But we can be made clean, transformed, and given a new purpose, rescued and redeemed by the loving hands of the One who always finds beauty in His creations.”

This season, let’s remember that although the story of Jesus’ life on earth begins with Christmas, it doesn’t end there.

He didn’t remain in the manger. Jesus grew and led a sinless life as He taught, healed and loved.

He then became the ultimate sacrifice when He willingly died on the cross for our sins.

Christmas is a wonderful time to not only find freedom from past sin through Jesus, but to also surrender out futures to the One who always writes the best stories.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.