What if, on Christmas Eve, heaven did more than feel near—what if it opened?
As Christmas approaches, I’d love to share a little of the story that means so much to me.
A Christmas Room: A Tale of Faith, Love & Light is a story of family, faith, second chances, and the enduring love that connects us to those we’ve lost.
It all begins with a little girl named Sarah and a Christmas Eve she will never forget.
From the Prologue of A Christmas Room
Sarah was nine years old the first time she saw the Christmas Room lit on Christmas Eve.
It was late — long past the hour she was supposed to be asleep. The grown-ups’ voices and faint strains of music drifted up the staircase, pulling her from beneath her quilt. She padded down the hall in her socks, careful to stay in the shadows.
From her hiding place at the top of the stairs, she could see the room. The tree nearly touched the ceiling, its branches heavy with ornaments that shimmered in the firelight. Candles flickered in the windows, their glow alive, as if the flames were breathing.
And there were people — so many people. Some she recognized from the neighborhood, others she had never seen. They hugged as if they were family, laughing together as though they had always belonged. The warmth in their faces came from something deeper than fire or cider.
Just months earlier, Sarah had spent part of her summer here while her parents traveled. She was gardening with Aunt Mary when Uncle Ed approached, his face pale and eyes brimming. That was the moment she learned the unthinkable — her parents had been killed in a car accident. The summer air had turned heavy and strange as Aunt Mary pulled her close, whispering, “You’ll always have a home here, sweetheart.” Uncle Ed stood behind them, his steady hand resting on her shoulder.
Even so, grief clung to her like a coat she couldn’t shrug off. Yet now, watching the golden light spill into the hall, she felt something different — something that made her chest feel both tight and full.
Aunt Mary caught Sarah’s eye across the room, smiled, and pressed a finger to her lips. Later, when the guests had gone and Sarah was back in bed, Aunt Mary sat on the edge of the mattress.
“The magic of Christmas is real, Sarah,” she whispered. “The ones you love are always with you, even when you can’t see them. And heaven… sometimes it’s closer than you think.”
Sarah frowned. “But how can people be here if they’re… gone?”
Aunt Mary smoothed her hair. “Some things can’t be explained with words. You’ll understand one day.”
Sarah didn’t know what to say. She only knew the Christmas Room felt different than any place she had ever been — as if it held its breath on Christmas Eve, waiting for something unseen.
That night, long after Aunt Mary left, she lay awake listening to the faint echo of laughter and the soft creak of the settling house. The glow of the tree stayed with her, carrying a strange sense of comfort she couldn’t name.
She couldn’t have known it then, but one day the Christmas Room would be hers — along with the secret of what happened there each Christmas Eve.
And that’s where Sarah’s journey begins.
Years later, life will bring her back to that beloved farmhouse, where memories, unexpected blessings, and a remarkable Christmas will change her life forever.
If this little glimpse has touched your heart, I hope you’ll join Sarah and her family for the rest of their story.https://link.amazon/B09Nah5mv
A Christmas Room: A Tale of Faith, Love & Light is Book One in my Seasons of Faith series.
Available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and audiobook. Hardcover coming soon!
Ellen M. DuBois
