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A Gentle and Lowly Christmas: A Mildred Budge Friendship Story
Do you brace for Christmas and the energy it requires to meet the social demands? At the same time do you long for that elusive Christmas spirit that brings refreshment and satisfaction?
You will find amusement and nostalgia in your favorite Christmas movies.
You will enjoy singing along with your favorite characters about a white Christmas and love.
But the Christmas spirit your soul craves is found in the story of a babe born in a stable. The story of the Christ child being born in squalor and what his life means for people everywhere is the story that will bring you the Christmas spirit your soul needs. You will find that story best told in the Bible.
But the way that story gets lived out by others is happening in this one.
A Gentle and Lowly Christmas features many of Mildred’s best Belle and Sam, Jake Diamond, Fran and Winston, Dixie, Steev, Janie and Little Mister. But there is a new character to meet in this one, and she is a dynamo. Her name is Kathryn Harris, and she embodies the smile of Christmas and the helping hands that church ladies everywhere offer as their contribution to create an experience of the Spirit of Christmas for everyone.
So come to the stable in this story. Enjoy a gentle and lowly Christmas with the One who offers a life rich in promises and joy.
The Christmas story is active all year round, not just in December. So, if you are looking for refreshment, check out this second book in the A Mildred Budge Friendship story.
Daphne Simpkins is an Alabama writer best known for her Mildred Budge stories. But she has also written about caregiving and cooking and other kinds of love stories. You can follow her on Amazon to keep up with new releases.
You will find amusement and nostalgia in your favorite Christmas movies.
You will enjoy singing along with your favorite characters about a white Christmas and love.
But the Christmas spirit your soul craves is found in the story of a babe born in a stable. The story of the Christ child being born in squalor and what his life means for people everywhere is the story that will bring you the Christmas spirit your soul needs. You will find that story best told in the Bible.
But the way that story gets lived out by others is happening in this one.
A Gentle and Lowly Christmas features many of Mildred’s best Belle and Sam, Jake Diamond, Fran and Winston, Dixie, Steev, Janie and Little Mister. But there is a new character to meet in this one, and she is a dynamo. Her name is Kathryn Harris, and she embodies the smile of Christmas and the helping hands that church ladies everywhere offer as their contribution to create an experience of the Spirit of Christmas for everyone.
So come to the stable in this story. Enjoy a gentle and lowly Christmas with the One who offers a life rich in promises and joy.
The Christmas story is active all year round, not just in December. So, if you are looking for refreshment, check out this second book in the A Mildred Budge Friendship story.
Daphne Simpkins is an Alabama writer best known for her Mildred Budge stories. But she has also written about caregiving and cooking and other kinds of love stories. You can follow her on Amazon to keep up with new releases.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 15, 2024
If you’ve ever been a member or regular attendant of a small church, A GENTLE AND LOWLY CHRISTMAS will warm your heart and stir your soul while delivering a Christmas message that will minister to one and all: “There’s a way to live that’s pure, energizing and hopeful. You become not only reconciled to your Creator but reconciled to yourself.”
Daphne Simpkins is an author who understands character development. She also understands relationships. The folks you will meet in this story will stay with you for a while; they’re real. Older widows banded together, serving the congregation and community with a smile, hug, coat, leftover plate, cookies or conversation; each with their own personal, special need being met. Young widows looking for advice, for a new partner or to get out of an unhealthy relationship; Young families dealing with stress, older people looking for their place after retirement; people doing life, foibles and all.
It’s Christmastime at the Church on the Corner and there’s a new pastor as well as some changes to the way things have always been done: a meeting, a vote, passive aggressive protests of the most holy kind and a subtle, sweet, GENTLE AND LOWLY CHRISTMAS spirit found on these pages. For readers who frequent the doors of similar locations, you’ll find laughter, a few tears and the promise fulfilled: “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ, the LORD!”📚
Daphne Simpkins is an author who understands character development. She also understands relationships. The folks you will meet in this story will stay with you for a while; they’re real. Older widows banded together, serving the congregation and community with a smile, hug, coat, leftover plate, cookies or conversation; each with their own personal, special need being met. Young widows looking for advice, for a new partner or to get out of an unhealthy relationship; Young families dealing with stress, older people looking for their place after retirement; people doing life, foibles and all.
It’s Christmastime at the Church on the Corner and there’s a new pastor as well as some changes to the way things have always been done: a meeting, a vote, passive aggressive protests of the most holy kind and a subtle, sweet, GENTLE AND LOWLY CHRISTMAS spirit found on these pages. For readers who frequent the doors of similar locations, you’ll find laughter, a few tears and the promise fulfilled: “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ, the LORD!”📚
December 9, 2024
A Study in Character in story form well done!
Simpson's delivers a beautiful Christmas card of a Southern Christmas in a small town. At first I thought this was a mystery of some sort and in a way it is. The story reveals the frustrations of broken dreams and fears people harbor and the way they respond to others during the season. Some are hurt and abrupt like Jasmine, others fearful of failure and rejection yet have A hard time trying to be accepted. But there is a special clutch of caring, helpful ladies who see past the facade into the needs and try to encourage their neighbor through acts of kindness and sometimes a timely remark.
As O read I wondered where the plot was going, but decided to learn a out the characters and that's were the story makes the most sense. It's not the plot but how the message of Christmas affects people and then those around them.
Though appropriate for any age I recommend this book for adults old enough to understand the nuances of good and poor relationships and how to help those needing he!p. It is a good study but more importantly, presented in a nice story form. It's not the flashy rack of lamb and cheesecake party as Liz would like, no, this is the sustaining sandwich and cider drink a farmer would appreciate.
Simpson's delivers a beautiful Christmas card of a Southern Christmas in a small town. At first I thought this was a mystery of some sort and in a way it is. The story reveals the frustrations of broken dreams and fears people harbor and the way they respond to others during the season. Some are hurt and abrupt like Jasmine, others fearful of failure and rejection yet have A hard time trying to be accepted. But there is a special clutch of caring, helpful ladies who see past the facade into the needs and try to encourage their neighbor through acts of kindness and sometimes a timely remark.
As O read I wondered where the plot was going, but decided to learn a out the characters and that's were the story makes the most sense. It's not the plot but how the message of Christmas affects people and then those around them.
Though appropriate for any age I recommend this book for adults old enough to understand the nuances of good and poor relationships and how to help those needing he!p. It is a good study but more importantly, presented in a nice story form. It's not the flashy rack of lamb and cheesecake party as Liz would like, no, this is the sustaining sandwich and cider drink a farmer would appreciate.
December 9, 2024
delightful gentle Christmas tale
Friendship. Understanding,tolerance.
Acute observations of human nature and church politics. And gentle acceptance and kindness. We can learn a lot from observing this community.
Merry Christmas.
Friendship. Understanding,tolerance.
Acute observations of human nature and church politics. And gentle acceptance and kindness. We can learn a lot from observing this community.
Merry Christmas.
December 6, 2024
An engaging story
A real Christmas story. I liked how the magic of Christmas moved through the characters, changing some for the better, and shining through others to act as a beacon of hope to all. The characters were well developed and very real.
A real Christmas story. I liked how the magic of Christmas moved through the characters, changing some for the better, and shining through others to act as a beacon of hope to all. The characters were well developed and very real.
January 2, 2025
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”
(Philippians 2:3).
Daphne Simpkins unfolds a homely Christmas story, contrasting those who use their simple gifts—a warm smile, a heart for hospitality—with those who use their gifts to criticize and shut down others.
A key figure in her story, an aging, impoverished actor, treads the path of Christmas with one arm linked with dead hopes and the other cradling crushing humiliation. A Christmas Eve program at his church is in the works, but a simple decision about the timing of the service stirs conflict, the tradition-bound “Pharisees” at odds with the fun-loving “Sadducees.” In the resulting chaos, worker bee, Kathryn, seeks to restore Christmas hope and love to the evening fellowship as her friend, Mildred, opens her heart and home in communal embrace.
This is not a fast-moving action drama. Instead, it is an invitation to peek into our own hearts, recognize our unkind biases, and choose to be people who give value to others. She also silently suggests we rethink what we actually celebrate at Christmas, drawing us to personal reflection and a call to transformation.
(Philippians 2:3).
Daphne Simpkins unfolds a homely Christmas story, contrasting those who use their simple gifts—a warm smile, a heart for hospitality—with those who use their gifts to criticize and shut down others.
A key figure in her story, an aging, impoverished actor, treads the path of Christmas with one arm linked with dead hopes and the other cradling crushing humiliation. A Christmas Eve program at his church is in the works, but a simple decision about the timing of the service stirs conflict, the tradition-bound “Pharisees” at odds with the fun-loving “Sadducees.” In the resulting chaos, worker bee, Kathryn, seeks to restore Christmas hope and love to the evening fellowship as her friend, Mildred, opens her heart and home in communal embrace.
This is not a fast-moving action drama. Instead, it is an invitation to peek into our own hearts, recognize our unkind biases, and choose to be people who give value to others. She also silently suggests we rethink what we actually celebrate at Christmas, drawing us to personal reflection and a call to transformation.
August 3, 2025
The Mildred Budge novels touch me in such a sweet way. Mildred, like me, is an older “church lady” who engages in the outwardly mundane activities of her local church. Potlucks, opening her home to a single Mom for temporary respite, baking Christmas cookies,keeping the back door open for her neighbor —all small acts of service that seem so commonplace. But there’s a depth and a richness to Mildred which comes from her faith. Somehow the author touches my heart strings with the understanding that it matters, that it’s all done with love and that the ties that bind are blessed. I love the way the church ladies interact with each other; they have a whole subculture going on there in the kitchen. They can laugh together, work together like a well oiled machine, spot the person in the congregation who needs an extra bag of cookies to bring home because he is hungry. In this story of a simple Christmas Eve service, we see some of the quirky members of the congregation and how the mature church ladies interact with them in grace and mercy. It’s very simple and very heartwarming.
September 24, 2024
A fine caboose for a delightful series. Mildred Budge and her church community in a little town in The South have completely captivated me. As Daphne Simpkins adds additional books to the series, the characters keep evolving. I believe I have read most of the other books with these characters at least 3 times. Recommended with 5 stars. I advise reading these books in order.
December 12, 2024
What an enchanting book!
It was so good to remember the Christmas hospitality that happens in a small congregation! I especially loved the message from the pastor with his comment about Jesus being born in a dirty manger...the correlation brought a tear to my eye!
It was so good to remember the Christmas hospitality that happens in a small congregation! I especially loved the message from the pastor with his comment about Jesus being born in a dirty manger...the correlation brought a tear to my eye!
July 26, 2025
Loving Mildred Budge
Daphne Simpson's has interlaced each Mildred Budge book with His presence, praise, messages of mercy and a healthy dose of humor. I have read each one and they do not disappoint.
Daphne Simpson's has interlaced each Mildred Budge book with His presence, praise, messages of mercy and a healthy dose of humor. I have read each one and they do not disappoint.
November 4, 2024
Listened on Audible (VV)/KU.
This book lacked the spiritual depth of other books by this author. I missed it.
This book lacked the spiritual depth of other books by this author. I missed it.
January 10, 2025
4.5 stars
Read
February 10, 2025Wonderful book! I would love more Mildred Budge books!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews