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A Stranger for Christmas
The heartwarming, unabridged story of "A Stranger for Christmas" by acclaimed poet Carol Lynn Pearson will touch families everywhere--and is sure to become a holiday listening tradition.
Two old ladies find themselves alone in a nursing home during the Christmas season, but one of them still believes in goodness, faith, and hope. She believes that one phone call to her children will show that kindness to strangers still exists. But something unexpected--even miraculous--happens that will change both women's lives forever.
Two old ladies find themselves alone in a nursing home during the Christmas season, but one of them still believes in goodness, faith, and hope. She believes that one phone call to her children will show that kindness to strangers still exists. But something unexpected--even miraculous--happens that will change both women's lives forever.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
20 people are currently reading
755 people want to read
About the author
Carol Lynn Pearson
91 books123 followersFrom http://www.clpearson.com/about_me.htm
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
In fourth grade, in Gusher, Utah, I won four dollars in a school district essay contest on “Why We Should Eat a Better Breakfast.” And yes, this morning I had a bowl of my own excellent granola, followed by a hike in the hills near my home in Walnut Creek, California.
In high school I began writing in earnest. I have now in my files a folder marked “Poetry, Very Bad,” and another, “Poetry, Not Quite So Bad.” Writing served a good purpose for that very dramatic, insecure adolescent. Also at that time I began to keep a diary, which I still maintain and which has been indescribably useful to me both as a writer and as a pilgrim on the earth.
After graduating from Brigham Young University with an MA in theatre, teaching for a year in Utah at Snow College, and traveling for a year, I taught part-time at BYU in the English department and was then hired by the motion picture studio on campus to write educational and religious screenplays.
While performing at the university as Mrs. Antrobus in Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth,” I met and fell in love with Gerald Pearson, a shining, blond, enthusiastic young man, who fell in love with me and my poems.
“We’ve got to get them published,” he said on our honeymoon, and soon dragged me up to the big city, Salt Lake City, to see who would be first in line to publish them. “Poetry doesn’t sell,” insisted everyone we spoke to, and I, somewhat relieved, put publishing on the list of things to do posthumously.
But not Gerald. “Then I’ll publish them,” he said. Borrowing two thousand dollars, he created a company called “Trilogy Arts” and published two thousand copies of a book called Beginnings, a slim, hard-back volume with a white cover that featured a stunning illustration, “God in Embryo,” by our good friend Trevor Southey, now an internationally known artist. On the day in autumn of 1967 that Gerald delivered the books by truck to our little apartment in Provo, I was terrified. I really had wanted to do this posthumously.
Beginnings
Today
You came running
With a small specked egg
Warm in your hand.
You could barely understand,
I know,
As I told you of Beginnings–
Of egg and bird.
Told, too,
That years ago you began,
Smaller than sight.
And then,
As egg yearns for sky
And seed stretches to tree,
You became–
Like me.
Oh,
But there’s so much more.
You and I, child,
Have just begun.
Think:
Worlds from now
What might we be?–
We, who are seed
Of Deity.
We toted a package of books up to the BYU bookstore, and asked to see the book buyer. “Well,” she said, “nobody ever buys poetry, but since you’re a local person, let me take four on consignment.” As they came in packages of twenty, we persuaded her to take twenty--on consignment. Next day she called and asked, “Those books you brought up here. Do you have any more of them?”
I had anticipated that the two thousand books, now stacked in our little closet and under our bed and in my Daddy’s garage, would last us years and years as wedding presents. But immediately we ordered a second printing. Beginnings sold over 150,000 copies before we gave it to Doubleday and then to Bookcraft.
Beginnings was followed by other volumes of poetry: The Search, The Growing Season, A Widening View, I Can’t Stop Smiling, and Women I Have Known and Been. Most of the poems from the earlier books now appear in a compilation, Beginnings and Beyond. The poems have been widely reprinted in such places as Ann Landers’ column, the second volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and college textbooks such as Houghton Mifflin’s Structure and Meaning: an Introduction to Literature. That first little volume of verse, and my husband’s determination, laid the foundation for my entire career.
Another characteristic of my husband was to have a profound effect on both
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
November 26, 2021
I’ve been eyeing this one for at least three or four years. It’s about Christmas and elderly people. Right up my alley. I procrastinated a few years as I thought $4.99 was a lot for a novella. I finally couldn’t wait any longer and went for it. Guess what? It is worth the price!
Myrna and Florence are nursing home roommates. As the Christmas season approaches, they both grow wistful. Myrna’s five children and their families have other plans for Christmas, and Florence never had kids nor a husband for that matter so she has never experienced a traditional Christmas. Florence, not getting any younger, is wishing she could be part of at least one traditional Christmas before she dies. How fun it would be to share the holiday with lots of kids, a big Christmas tree, and goodwill to all! She makes a bet with Myrna that in this day and age no one would be willing to open their heart and home and share their Christmas with a stranger. Myrna, unable to stop thinking about the biblical phrase “I was a stranger and ye took me in,” accepts the bet and devises a plan to prove that there are still such people in the world.
This is a wonderful little Christmas tale. It did not go as I expected, which made it even more special. If you are looking for a sweet holiday story that will warm your heart and make you smile, this one is for you.
Myrna and Florence are nursing home roommates. As the Christmas season approaches, they both grow wistful. Myrna’s five children and their families have other plans for Christmas, and Florence never had kids nor a husband for that matter so she has never experienced a traditional Christmas. Florence, not getting any younger, is wishing she could be part of at least one traditional Christmas before she dies. How fun it would be to share the holiday with lots of kids, a big Christmas tree, and goodwill to all! She makes a bet with Myrna that in this day and age no one would be willing to open their heart and home and share their Christmas with a stranger. Myrna, unable to stop thinking about the biblical phrase “I was a stranger and ye took me in,” accepts the bet and devises a plan to prove that there are still such people in the world.
This is a wonderful little Christmas tale. It did not go as I expected, which made it even more special. If you are looking for a sweet holiday story that will warm your heart and make you smile, this one is for you.
December 2, 2021
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in
We are enjoined to take in the stranger and care for him, but how many of us would open our family Christmas celebration to a total stranger, an old lady from a nursing home who might be in a wheelchair and need care as well as comfort? My guess is most of us would find reasons why we just couldn’t do it.
This is a lovely little story and sure to become a Christmas favorite for me. Thanks to my lovely friend, Christine, for pointing me to this one.
We are enjoined to take in the stranger and care for him, but how many of us would open our family Christmas celebration to a total stranger, an old lady from a nursing home who might be in a wheelchair and need care as well as comfort? My guess is most of us would find reasons why we just couldn’t do it.
This is a lovely little story and sure to become a Christmas favorite for me. Thanks to my lovely friend, Christine, for pointing me to this one.
December 8, 2018
Sweeeeeet! Another GOOD READ, which has been on my Christmas Shelf for years. Dusted it off this year and had a nice little get-in-the-Spirit-of-Christmas read.
Two seniors of the female persuasion living in a California retirement establishment, Myrna and Florence, discuss whether or no a stranger might be welcome in someone’s home for Christmas. A single woman all her life, Florence, has never experienced a real family Christmas. Myrna has known nothing else; this is her first Christmas on her own. Her husband recently deceased and ill health have brought Myrna from Idaho to sunny CA. Florence does not believe she, or any other elderly person, would be welcome as a stranger at someone’s family holiday time. Myrna insists Florence doesn’t know her children!
My pre-GRs system of recording, a card-in-the-book indicates I read this 15 years ago! Will keep it on the shelf and pull it out again ... maybe sooner than 15 years next time.
Also looked up the author and she has written two other promising Christmas books plus a bio I want to check out! Yay!
Two seniors of the female persuasion living in a California retirement establishment, Myrna and Florence, discuss whether or no a stranger might be welcome in someone’s home for Christmas. A single woman all her life, Florence, has never experienced a real family Christmas. Myrna has known nothing else; this is her first Christmas on her own. Her husband recently deceased and ill health have brought Myrna from Idaho to sunny CA. Florence does not believe she, or any other elderly person, would be welcome as a stranger at someone’s family holiday time. Myrna insists Florence doesn’t know her children!
My pre-GRs system of recording, a card-in-the-book indicates I read this 15 years ago! Will keep it on the shelf and pull it out again ... maybe sooner than 15 years next time.
Also looked up the author and she has written two other promising Christmas books plus a bio I want to check out! Yay!
December 1, 2022
Oh my god. I cried. Actually cried over how sweet and wholesome and beautiful and heartwarming this book was. For it only to be 108 pages it pulls at the heartstrings in the best way.
This story is about Myrna and Florence, two little old ladies who are in a nursing home on Christmas. Florence tells Myrna that no one would take in a complete stranger for Christmas but Myrna truly believes in her heart that all of her children would, so Myrna calls all of her children to see what they would say. But something truly miraculous happens instead and it had me in tears.
I have to admit I was actually a little nervous going into this book because I'm not the biggest fan of religious books and overly religious books (ones that almost focus on nothing but religion) are a definite no for me. But I was very pleasantly surprised to find this book didn't actually focus much on the religious aspect of Christmas but more so on the family aspect and that really sealed the deal for me. It did speak of religion but it was the perfect amount in my opinion and actually really helped the story along and helped build the foundation of it without focusing all of the storys attention solely on it. I absolutely loved this book.
This story is about Myrna and Florence, two little old ladies who are in a nursing home on Christmas. Florence tells Myrna that no one would take in a complete stranger for Christmas but Myrna truly believes in her heart that all of her children would, so Myrna calls all of her children to see what they would say. But something truly miraculous happens instead and it had me in tears.
I have to admit I was actually a little nervous going into this book because I'm not the biggest fan of religious books and overly religious books (ones that almost focus on nothing but religion) are a definite no for me. But I was very pleasantly surprised to find this book didn't actually focus much on the religious aspect of Christmas but more so on the family aspect and that really sealed the deal for me. It did speak of religion but it was the perfect amount in my opinion and actually really helped the story along and helped build the foundation of it without focusing all of the storys attention solely on it. I absolutely loved this book.
March 14, 2021
Loved it
December 18, 2021
A very sweet predictable Christmas story!
December 2, 2015
A sweet Christmas story about two old ladies in a nursing home. One, a widow, has wonderful memories of many past Christmases with her family; the other wishes she could finally experience such a holiday.
How a loving family meets this challenge leads us to a surprise ending which touches the heartstrings.
How a loving family meets this challenge leads us to a surprise ending which touches the heartstrings.
December 4, 2017
An elderly woman wonders if her children learned what she taught them about giving, sharing, and serving others at Christmas. A sweet story. I read in one sitting.
November 22, 2018
Great little inspirational Christmas story!
November 30, 2018
Real Meaning of Christmas
Great story to put in the Christmas spirit and to remember the true meaning of what Christmas is all about.
Great story to put in the Christmas spirit and to remember the true meaning of what Christmas is all about.
December 19, 2022
Myrna and Florence live in a convalescence home in Southern CA and I "visit" them almost every Christmas: this is a wonderfully thought-provoking short novel.
I used this as a read aloud and book discussion for several years when I taught 4th and 5th grade. The character development makes for an excellent study. On completion, my students took their own favorite books and we visited several retirement homes in our city. The students read aloud, their favorite books, to individual residents. This was an amazingly meaningful field trip! Several students told me, “This was the best field trip ever!” This confirmed to me that in every human heart is the need to feel needed, to have purpose and to serve.
Far too many children believe that Christmas is about their own pleasure and being happy. This is what is communicated in our culture. But, I believe that this story and the opportunity to serve those who many have forgotten helped shift the thinking of these children…and my own self-centered thinking as well!
I used this as a read aloud and book discussion for several years when I taught 4th and 5th grade. The character development makes for an excellent study. On completion, my students took their own favorite books and we visited several retirement homes in our city. The students read aloud, their favorite books, to individual residents. This was an amazingly meaningful field trip! Several students told me, “This was the best field trip ever!” This confirmed to me that in every human heart is the need to feel needed, to have purpose and to serve.
Far too many children believe that Christmas is about their own pleasure and being happy. This is what is communicated in our culture. But, I believe that this story and the opportunity to serve those who many have forgotten helped shift the thinking of these children…and my own self-centered thinking as well!
December 26, 2018
Cute read abt 2 women in a nursing home. One calls her family to take in an elderly woman for Christmas, Genevieve, but Genevieve does not exist. The mother wanted to prove she taught her children well. Well,the kids failed her test but passed in other ways. Quick,quirky read.
December 8, 2008
*This story is thought-provoking and a genuine joy to read! Pearson’s descriptive writing ability pulls you into the story and allows you to experience the events right along with the two old ladies. I always love a book that can make me laugh and make me cry. This book has a great mix of both and a sprinkling of Christmas nostalgia we all need.
January 31, 2011
A delightful, heart-warming, poignant story. No surprise that it made me tear up. Quick, easy read for a warm pick-me-up amidst the hustle / bustle of Christmas. This main characters in this book are elderly, but it still appealed to my teenagers. In fact, my mom read this to us a few years ago, and my kids requested that I read it again to them this year.
December 12, 2019
A Stranger for Christmas is a story about 2 elderly women: Florence, a former actress who never married or had kids and Myrna who’s husband died and has 5 grown kids. Both women live in a nursing home . One day while watching a show with little orphan Annie, Florence asks the question why people don’t bring home an elderly person to entertain for Christmas. Myrna has faith that her kids would take someone in and to prove it to Florence she calls each of her kids. She tells her kids a fake story about an elderly woman named Genevieve, who’s not real. Each of her kids turn down her request to bring Genevieve to their houses. Myrna is surprised and disappointed with her kids. The day before Christmas Eve while Myrna and Genevieve are napping in there chairs, Myrna thinks she’s dreaming when she hears voices but when she opens her eyes she sees her whole family there at the nursing home. Her family explains to her how they planned to come down at Christmas to surprise her and even rented a beach house to bring her to where they will celebrate Christmas. One of her sons is missing because he’s trying to locate Genevieve. Myrna explains what she did. Her kids tell their mother that she apparently forgot what she taught them. In the end, the family invite Florence to spend Christmas with Myrna and the whole family.
“I was a stranger, and ye took me in” as Christ taught makes a person think if we would bring someone into our home who is alone, has no one or no place to go. It made me think of all those people who are in that situation and have no one especially at Christmas. It’s an inspirational story teaching us to reach out to others. I love how Myrna’s family pulled through and was their for their mom and a stranger
“I was a stranger, and ye took me in” as Christ taught makes a person think if we would bring someone into our home who is alone, has no one or no place to go. It made me think of all those people who are in that situation and have no one especially at Christmas. It’s an inspirational story teaching us to reach out to others. I love how Myrna’s family pulled through and was their for their mom and a stranger
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2022
This novella should be on everyone’s annual Christmas Reading List, “for I was a Stranger and you took me in…”
Florence, once a well-known co-Star in Hollywood is now a forgotten old lady, her life never included a husband or children. After watching the movie Annie when Daddy Warbucks adopts Annie at Christmas, Florence comes up with the idea of what it would be like to be adopted for a few days over Christmas. What if some nice family with children were to walk through the door and point to her, “…that one! That red-haired lady…” and take her home for a few days over Christmas.
Myrna her friend who also lives in the home and has health issues which now confine her to a wheelchair will for the first time not be visiting her family, although each of her five children have promised to call Christmas Day, it just won’t be the same.
Myrna and Florence create Genevieve, an elderly woman who could represent any older individual one who is alone at the holidays.
Soon Myrna starts making calls to each of her five children. She is convinced she has raised them correctly and one of them will adopt “fictitious Genevieve” and offer to bring her to their house for Christmas….
Florence, once a well-known co-Star in Hollywood is now a forgotten old lady, her life never included a husband or children. After watching the movie Annie when Daddy Warbucks adopts Annie at Christmas, Florence comes up with the idea of what it would be like to be adopted for a few days over Christmas. What if some nice family with children were to walk through the door and point to her, “…that one! That red-haired lady…” and take her home for a few days over Christmas.
Myrna her friend who also lives in the home and has health issues which now confine her to a wheelchair will for the first time not be visiting her family, although each of her five children have promised to call Christmas Day, it just won’t be the same.
Myrna and Florence create Genevieve, an elderly woman who could represent any older individual one who is alone at the holidays.
Soon Myrna starts making calls to each of her five children. She is convinced she has raised them correctly and one of them will adopt “fictitious Genevieve” and offer to bring her to their house for Christmas….
December 6, 2022
This book asks the question, what would you do if someone, namely your mother, asked you if you would take in your home for three days a lonely elderly woman, only wanting to have one last Christmas with a family. This woman is completely fictional, yet there is probably someone out there, in a nursing home, who would want exactly this… to spend a Christmas with a family. We all have excuses, even if they are white lies, but ultimately, deep down, we want to do what is best for others, especially around Christmas. My only thought toward the end of the book was, what if Genevieve was real? Would the family still have room in their home for Florence, Myrna’s roommate, never married, no children, and no plans to go out or have visitors for Christmas? Sometimes we overlook the obvious…outside appearances sometimes do not reflect the sadness and loneliness in our hearts.
December 27, 2023
Would you take a senior in your home for 3 days during Christmas time and share with your family all the goings on during Christmas time? Two friends that are in a rest home that couldn't be with family for Christmas decided to ask one of the friend's family members if they would do this in the place of themselves! What a novel idea! Did they????
Great reading and quick reading to enjoy the true spirit of Christmas! Could this be anytime of the year too?
Great reading and quick reading to enjoy the true spirit of Christmas! Could this be anytime of the year too?
January 10, 2021
A stranger for Christmas
This is my favorite Christmas book. I don’t know how many physical copies I have bought, because I lend them out and never get them back. Months ago, I recommended this book to an author. Told her that I had to buy another copy. She gifted me this one. Warning. Everyone one who read it that I know cried.
This is my favorite Christmas book. I don’t know how many physical copies I have bought, because I lend them out and never get them back. Months ago, I recommended this book to an author. Told her that I had to buy another copy. She gifted me this one. Warning. Everyone one who read it that I know cried.
December 13, 2024
This was actually a “strange” little book, but it told a huge story about two women in a nursing home who make a bet between them that no one would have a lonely stranger to their home for Christmas. It’s really quite an eye opener for both the women, as well as the reader. A great book for the holidays!
January 16, 2019
Very, slight story of two older ladies in a nursing home. One challenges the other to ask her five children, one by one to take in a stranger for Christmas. Was supposed to be heartwarming but was just tedious.
December 15, 2022
I loved the humor in this story. It is a story that speaks to what Christ taught and how we should follow him, and there was enough humor to make the story enjoyable and enough tears at the end to make you wish you had a box of tissue close to hand. Definitely worth reading again every year.
January 7, 2023
A very heartwarming story of a mother's faith in her adult children to have learned the lessons she had taught them by both word and example. A VERY short read! I finished it in one sitting. Ended the sitting with tears!
December 31, 2023
This was a sweet, quick Christmas read. I won't say there were any deep themes here but I did like the idea of making us all ask ourselves what we would do if asked to take in a stranger over the holidays.
August 8, 2024
Best Christmas story ever
I read this book years ago and never forgot it. I was thrilled to find it on Kindle. I plan to read it every year for now on just like I watch my favorite holiday movies every year.
I read this book years ago and never forgot it. I was thrilled to find it on Kindle. I plan to read it every year for now on just like I watch my favorite holiday movies every year.
December 18, 2017
Such a sad and happy story! It is a very small book, but so inspiring and filled with the Christmas spirit.
December 22, 2017
Read this in an evening. A short, but very sweet read!
December 22, 2017
A heartwarming Christmas story of a Mother’s love & expectations of the lessons she taught her children! Kleenex needed.
August 13, 2018
A short, wonderful Christmas book worth a quick read when the holiday season comes upon us.
November 9, 2018
I love Carol Lynn Pearson's writings! Anything she writes has been given a lot of thought and heart. I wish I could remember what this book was about, but, unfortunately I cannot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews