Gretchen Carlson
“Late in the evening, someone knocked on the back porch door. They had driven into our farmyard without any headlights turned on. Earl grabbed a shovel and left without a word.“
I listened to my eighty-five-year-old grandmother. Why hadn’t she told me this story before? I held back questions as she filled in details: She had not known where her husband went. He returned exhausted at dawn, afraid to say much. He knew there would be an investigation.
My grandparents “courted” during the horse and buggy era and farmed with a team of horses. They survived the dust bowls and Great Depression, and the only resource they drew upon was their own manual labor.
It wasn’t until 1939 when they had the opportunity to get electricity, but in the bitter cold of December, their dream for lights before Christmas was crushed. It’s my grandmother’s story of gritty determination to get electricity that inspired my book, More Than Grit.
It’s a story of broken lives, deep friendship and forgiveness.
When I wrote the last paragraph of the book, I cried. It hit me that too often I’ve been like the main character who pushes and strives as if everything depends upon herself.
Even when I’ve failed to trust God, He has shown up and used his people – the church – along with family and friends in my life. He continues to pour out his Grace in many ways.
My grandmother passed away years before I wrote More Than Grit, but I am thankful for her story, especially at Christmas. Next time you flip on a light switch or turn on lights on a Christmas tree, be assured that the Lord is at work in all the details of your life.
He is the light of the world.
Merry Christmas!
We’d love to hear your Christmas story. Do you have a favorite tradition or decoration? Leave a comment!
Gretchen A Carlson Website
Candice Yamnitz
Michelle Kaderly Welsh
I love the light aspect of “More Than Grit.” One Christmas tradition our extended family celebrates is to hang colored lights on our trees. No white lights for us!
And I bet your tree is beautiful! I remember my grandparent’s had “bubble lights.” They looked a bit like eyedroppers with colored water that had bubbles when the light heated up. As a child, I found them fascinating!
I loved this book and am so glad you can preserve your grandmother’s memories through it!
Thank you! As I was writing it, I often wished I had asked her more about her life. Parents and grandparents have amazing life stories!
Thanks for sharing your inspiration. More Than Grit is a special book that I hope more and more people read.
Your comment means a lot! Thank you!