A Recipe For Hope

Today I'm excited because I've stepped out of my comfort zone to enter a holiday writing contest that involves writing a children's story. Fiction. Something I don't feel very confident about. But since it's about a Holiday Hero, it called my name and really challenged me to craft my 250 words into a timely tale.


Contest is opened until this Saturday, if you want to enter too.
Click {here} for the guidelines and to link up.
Thank you, Susanna, for this super fun opportunity!

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A Recipe For Hope

Passing the tattered man on that cold corner under cloudy skies, Hope’s heart felt as heavy as the bridge he warmed himself under.

“Where will he go for Christmas?” Hope wondered with worry.

Her mom’s explanation that he lives on the streets every day, even on Christmas, confused Hope and made her sad; how could someone not have a place to call home for the holidays?
  
Hope decided to start a Christmas crusade, to make at least one day better for him.

She dug out her Granny’s recipe for gingersnaps.

First, she’d convince her classmates to help her feed the homeless instead of having a holiday party this year.

Next, she’d invite some sidekicks, friends, family and neighbors, to help make the meal.

Then they’d all create goodies like caramels, fudge, and of course, Granny’s gingersnaps, treats to top off the turkey lunch they’d serve.

Her rescue plan was falling into place.

When Christmas morning arrived, Hope’s heroes headed downtown with hugs from home, their made-from-scratch turkey dinner that totally stuffed some empty tummies.

After they ate, a tattered man Hope thought she recognized came back, to thank her.

These gingersnaps smell and taste like home.”

The scent of Christmas past, a taste of Christmas present.

Hope had taken his heart home for the holidays.

Before leaving, Hope pulled out some supplies from her backpack to write down the recipe for him.

And like that, the recipe unleashed something sweeter than Granny’s gingersnaps, the gift of hope for Christmas future.

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32 comments

  1. What a lovely story of spreading holiday cheer to those who have little! Good luck in Susanna's contest!

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    1. Thank you, Judy. It sure stretched me but I had a blast crafting my words for a genre outside of my comfort cocoon, so it already feels like a win.

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  2. this is sweet. I love the idea of kids baking cookies to share with everyone.

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    1. Thank you, Sue. It's loosely based on an interaction my son and I had when we went to serve the homeless once a few years back. So fun to share kindness from our kitchens!

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  3. So much heart in this story! Good luck with the contest!

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    1. Thank you, Rose. I lost count of how many different ways I tried to get this story, my heart, onto paper. I appreciate you stopping by.

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  4. Hope has a beautiful heart, as do you. Tikkun Olam. This is a lovely story.

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    1. Thank you Mishka; Tikkun Olam is a beautiful concept that our Hope seems to truly understand and embrace.

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  5. Lovely story! My favorite line: The scent of Christmas past, a taste of Christmas present. Well done, best of luck in the contest!

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    1. Thank you, Kari. As I study mindfulness, I'm learning more and more about the power of our senses. I'm glad you came by today.

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    1. I was blessed to grow alongside superheroes like Hope for 34 years in education; such an incredible blessing!

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    1. Thanks! I appreciate you stopping by and reading it. Happy holidays.

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  8. This is a beautiful story, Barbara...and although you say it was out of your comfort zone, I think it was exactly in your comfort zone because you are all about helping kids become heroes. Your story is heartfelt...and the last lines are something we should all carry in our hearts...hope for the future. So glad you entered!!!

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    1. My dear Vivian, How grateful I am for your kind words of affirmation and love. It definitely made sense to write about kindness, but crafting fiction from scratch with minimal words was the challenging part; I never thought I could say the same thing in so SO many different ways. It feels like a personal win regardless of how the story does in the contest, for sure!

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  9. 'The gingersnaps taste and smell like home' was such a beautiful heart-squish! Lovely story, Barbara.

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    1. Thank you, Candice; aren't our grandmother's cookies an all-time treasured gift? So grateful for mindful memories.

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  10. Beautiful story. I love that it shows children that a simple act of kindness can help someone (even an adult) feel cared about. Good luck in the contest!

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    1. Your kind reflections warm my heart. Simplicity can spark a powerful momentum; it's the little things that become the BIG things!

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  11. This is a beautiful story, Barbara; I felt every emotion. What an inspiring gift you have given us all. :)

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    1. Thank you, Traci, for reading and sharing your feedback. It makes me happy that you could feel "every emotion!"

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  12. What a lovely story, Barbara! I especially love that Hope shared her Granny's gingersnaps, and its recipe to bring hope for the future.

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    1. So grateful that you stopped by, Patricia, to read my story; I truly believe our Grandparents' generation held the recipe for hope close to their hearts!

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  13. Such a feel good story, all warm and scented with ginger. I love it!

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    1. "Warm and scented with ginger." I like that; you're a good writer. Wait, did you enter the contest, too?? If so, good luck and thanks for stopping by.

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  14. What a beautifully sweet story! Thank you for sharing your kind spirit and courage with us. I hope you keep sharing this story and others. And Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you, Dawn; it was a fun one to write. I appreciate your kind reflections; Merry Christmas to you as well!

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  15. What a lovely, heart-felt story, Barbara! For someone who felt out of her comfort zone you did a wonderful job! I love Hope's solution - a model that other kids could follow to bring something good to the lives of people who don't have it so good - and her big heart is truly heroic. I'm so glad you joined in the Holiday fun!

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    1. Oh, Susanna, what a treasured gift, that you stopped by to affirm my heart's words. Thank you ever so much for hosting such an inspiring and fun challenge!

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  16. What a sweet story. I love that the little girl's name is Hope and she brings hope to others.

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    1. My friend Tanya has a daughter named Hope and I absolutely had to borrow it for this story of hope coming to the rescue! Thank you for reading it.

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I really enjoy hearing from my readers; thanks for sharing your reflections with us!