Ronda Rich

Syndicated Columnist

Years ago, a HarperCollins editor called my agent.

“Could we interest Ronda in writing about the strong faith of Southern women?” he asked. “My mother was Southern. I’ve never met a family more entrenched in the gospel than Mom’s. There is something extraordinary about Southern faith, particularly those in the rural South.”

Within three weeks, the book’s outline was the center of competitive bidding among publishers but, gladly, the book wound up with HarperCollins, becoming a best seller. As Esther said in the Old Testament, God had prepared me for a moment such as that. I had spent my life watching faith practiced in good times and bad, through tribulations and triumphs.

One Sunday after church, our pastor, Joe Vernon, approached me in the aisle where I stood and he asked quietly, “May I speak with you a minute?”

This godly man is distinguished, always beautifully dressed in dark suits and nice ties. He is what the Bible calls, “the greatest of these are the peacemakers.” He speaks gently but with a deep knowledge of the Bible and a conviction that equals its depth.

“I knew your Daddy,” he began. “There was no finer man of God’s than Ralph. Through his preaching, many people came to know the Lord.”

I nodded, wondering where this conversation was leading.

“Throughout the mountains, he preached Christ and Him crucified. As many people who came to know the Lord through your Daddy, it does not compare to the many, many more than your book will reach.” He studied me carefully. “I urge you to take this book far and wide to a hurting world that needs it.” He paused. “Your Daddy would be so proud of what you do.”

For 15 years, those words I have taken seriously, for there is no preacher more respected nor loved than Joe Vernon. Often I said, “I write books that I’m not embarrassed for my pastor to read.”

Christmas books and songs that have been written in the last 25 years focus primarily on a secular world, a good example being the upbeat melodic pop hit, “All I Want For Christmas.” An exception being a song written by the Christian comedian and Bill Gaither discovery, Mark Lowery. This hilarious man with the goofy expressions wrote one of the most beautiful hymns about Him – Jesus. “Mary, Did You Know?” It is utterly unique and powerful.

Three years ago, I began a series of lighthearted mysteries — each taking place on a different island off the Southern coast – with wellliked characters. While the series’ star, Stella Bankwell, is the person you’d want as your best friend, it is her best friend, Chatham Balsam Colquitt IV, “Chatty”, who has become the darling of readers across America. He springs forth from old money and, when he talks about Christmas, his bells are truly made of sterling silver.

The next island scheduled for a visit by Stella was once owned by the Carnegies – Cumberland.

However, I had an idea.

“How about a Christmas gift book, starring Stella, Chatty, and the gang?” I asked my publisher.

“Let’s do it,” he replied enthusiastically.

Thus, “A Merry Chatty Christmas” was born where Stella and her beloved friends return to her childhood home in the Appalachian foothills amidst a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.

Pastor Joe’s words resounded through my heart as I began to write. While the book begins in a secular gathering for Christmas, halfway through the story it turns to the true meaning of this holiday season: a birth in a stable, amidst donkeys and hay, in the small town of Bethlehem.

Time and time again as I wrote, I was reminded of Daddy’s favorite Christmas hymn, one born of the Appalachian mountains and accompanied by a mandolin, bringing a bluegrass musical purity.

“Oh, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” is a reminder of how stirring the true Christmas story remains over 2,000 years later.

Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of “A Merry Chatty Christmas.” Please visit www.rondarich.com to sign up for her free newsletter.