Tamera Lynn Kraft, author of A Christmas Promise
The Legend of Santa Claus
By Tamera Lynn Kraft
Santa Claus is a legend loved by millions of children throughout the centuries. While the story of Santa Claus is a myth told to illustrate the spirit of giving at Christmastime, there was a real man named Saint Nicholas.
Nicholas was born in the third century in the village of Patara. When he was born, Patara was a part of Greece. Now it’s located in Turkey. His parents were rich and raised him to be a Christian, but they died when he was young.
He used up his inheritance caring for the needy, the sick, and the suffering. When he was a little still a young man, he was appointed as bishop of Myra and became well known for his generosity to the needy, his love of children, and his care for sailors.
One story tells about three dowerless girls. In that time, girls whose fathers were too poor to provide dowries often had to be sold into slavery. On these three occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home providing enough for the dowries. People suspected Saint Nicholas of leaving the gifts. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.
The Roman Emperor, Diocletian, persecuted the church. Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned in a prison that was so full of Christians, it didn’t have room for criminals. Eventually he was released and returned to Myra and attended the council of Nicaea in 625.
Nicholas died on December 6, 643. A substance grew on his grave called manna that was reported to heal people. Since then, December 6 has been known as Saint Nicholas Day.
A
Moravian Holiday Story, Circa 1773
During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises he’ll be back by Christmas Day.
When he
doesn’t show up, Anna works hard to not fear the worst while she provides her
children with a traditional Moravian Christmas.
Through
it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that will give her the peace she
craves.
“Revel
in the spirit of a Colonial Christmas with this achingly tender love story that
will warm both your heart and your faith. With rich historical detail and
characters who live and breathe on the page, Tamera Lynn Kraft has penned a
haunting tale of Moravian missionaries who selflessly bring the promise of
Christ to the Lenape Indians. A beautiful way to set your season aglow, A
Christmas Promise is truly a promise kept for a heartwarming holiday tale.” –
Julie Lessman
Available
at these online stores:
Pelican Book Group
Christian Books.com http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=48711EB&item_code=WW&netp_id=1206746&event=ESRCG&view=details
Tamera
Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction
set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She is
married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron,
Ohio. Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are two of her
historical novellas that have been published.
Tamera
is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors
other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry
consultant and children’s evangelist. She has curriculum published and is a
recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup
for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.
You can contact Tamera online at these sites.
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