Christmas: Lost & Found: Rediscovering the True Spirit of Christmas

by John A. Jenson

Applying valuable lessons learned from his own life in small-town America, John Jenson, author of "Lost and Found", shows readers how personal setback can lead to unexpected joys.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 078686608X
• ISBN13: 9780786866083
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Hyperion Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Apparent Losses Become Wonderful Gains and Lessons!

This book makes a wonderful Christmas gift for the adolescent or young adult who is not yet fully comfortable with experiencing Christmas as an opportunity to give and to love. Christmas Lost & Found is a book of simple, timeless lessons that any child will experience in the process of growing up. The stories are built around Christmas experiences, and help a child go beyond initial conceptions of Christmas as being all about receiving. The gift to us as readers in this heart-warming book is in rediscovering the experiences of learning to give and to appreciate giving when others do it. For older children and young adults, these stories will help them to make those same discoveries for the first time. The format of the book is simple, yet effective. You begin with something the author lost "I LOST . . . ." Then you move to something the author gained "I FOUND . . . ." On the facing page, the loss and found points are turned into a lesson. These are beautifully written and will evoke many heart-felt memories of past Christmas seasons. The stories progress in age from thinking about Santa Claus as a young child to starting celebrating Christmas with one's new spouse.Here are a few of my favorites to give you a flavor of the book: "I LOST countless hours practicing 'The Little Drummer Boy' so I could play it just right for my grandma." "I FOUND that even a poor rendition would bring tears to the eyes of someone who appreciates the effort." "Imperfection aimed to please can be beautiful music to others.""I LOST my belief in Santa sometime around the second grade." "I FOUND the fun of keeping the mystery alive for those who still wanted him every Christmas Eve." "Making things happen for others reflects the true spirit of Christmas." "I LOST trust in Santa when I realized that it was the man next door wearing the red suit." "I FOUND that, even though Santa lost some credibility, my neighbor gained a lot." "No matter what clothes we wear, our actions define our character.""I LOST my lines and had to improvise during the annual Christmas play." "I FOUND that, though they weren't flawlessly delivered, the congregation got the message." "We don't have to be scholars of the gospel to share the word with others.""I LOST control of my emotions during the singing of 'Silent Night' on Christmas Eve." "I FOUND there are times when it's appropriate to let down my guard." "By being open to the Christmas spirit, we allow it to strike familiar chords any season." "I LOST respect for the man who didn't share my enthusiasm for the Christmas holidays." "I FOUND that, to some, holidays are full of memories they want to forget." "Try walking in the shoes of a person who has never received a new pair."If you are like me, these stories and lessons will move you and help you enjoy the Christmas season sooner and more often. You may even want to consider if you have the budget to give this book to yourself as a gift, as well. That might make Christ