The world today is full of cynicism, fear, and cultural and political enmity. With such an overwhelming wave of bad news, it’s always good to remind ourselves that there’s an amazing array of inspiring and heartwarming stories as well, and they are specially needed to complement the magical spirit of the holiday season. So, here are four true Christmas stories to inspire you!
Two Lives, Twice The Fortune
The evening of December 24, 2009, promised to be extra special for Mike and Tracy Hermanstorfer. Not only was it Christmas Eve, but, more importantly, they were about to have a baby. During labor, however, Tracy’s heart suddenly stopped beating, followed by her breathing. The doctors were forced to react quickly: they had little time to save the baby.
They immediately performed an emergency C-section, but the Hermanstorfer baby, Coltyn, exhibited all the wrong signs: he was limp, and his pulse and heartbeat were extremely weak, to the point that the whole room, including Mike, had little hope.
As the child remained unresponsive in his father’s arms, another team attempted to resuscitate Tracy, who lay motionless on the hospital bed. But suddenly, as unexplainably as it had stopped minutes earlier, her heart started beating again. And as her life rekindled, so too did Coltyn’s strength. His skin, once pale, flushed with color, and he started crying—showing everyone he was fine. Two lives, having almost gone through to the other side, amazingly came back.
To this day, no one can explain exactly what happened. Tracy was healthy and had no family history of heart disease. Her recovery, and that of Coltyn’s, was as mysterious as her ailment. Whatever the answer ultimately is, that intense Christmas night will surely remind the Hermanstorfers that life is fragile but also wonderful and full of surprises.
Hatbox Baby
It was a normal Christmas Eve in 1931 when Ed and Julia Stewart’s car broke down as they were driving home. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, seven miles west of Superior, Arizona, Ed tried to figure out what the problem was, while Julia wandered into the desert. There she came upon a lonely hatbox. Sensing something was out of place, she called Ed over and together found a baby inside. Abandoned and alone, the newborn girl seemed otherwise in good health. The couple managed to fix the car and took the baby to the authorities, who eventually put her up for adoption.
In the end, it was another couple, the Elliots, who adopted the girl, known by the media as “the hatbox baby.” Faith, the adoptive mother, named her Sharon. The baby grew up to live a happy, healthy, and successful life.
Christmas Truce
World War I was a dark episode for humanity. It’s estimated that between 17 to 40 million people died, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history (surpassed only by WWII). But amid the bloody horrors of war, there was yet an inspiring glimpse of human fraternity and kindness on the Christmas of 1914. When hostilities were at their lowest, soldiers across the front managed to find in them the dignity to stop the fight and come together through common ground. And that truly gives you hope for our species.
As the story goes, while British and German troops were in the trenches of France, some soldiers started singing carols on Christmas Eve, and the other side reciprocated. German troops walked across the battlefield the morning after, shouting “Merry Christmas!” in English. The British received them and both sides exchanged cigarettes and souvenirs. Some even got together to play a friendly football match!
A Tree For Your Holiday
Christmas trees are an essential part of Christmas, and it’s sad whenever any family is unable to get one—especially for the children. Such was the case for the Albert family during the Christmas of 1958, when unlucky circumstances seemed to conspire to deprive them of an evergreen fir that year. No vendor was to be found, no tree was available, and the Albert kids were devastated. The 3 and 4-year-olds had been looking forward to its decoration and to finding Santa’s presents under it, but by Christmas Eve they had to face the fact that their hopes would go unfulfilled.
Suddenly, as they were driving home that night, a strong wind violently threw a tree in front of their truck. Looking to see if it belonged to anyone, or if it was for sale, Mr. Albert asked around town about it. No one was selling a tree that night, and it seemed to be free of any owner, so the family took it home. And sure, the children probably believed in miracles from then on.
Amazing as these stories are, we’re sure many more are waiting to be told. If you’re interested in making your voice heard and sharing your experience, we’ll be glad to hear you. Send your 500-word submission to storyteller@culturacolectiva.com for a chance to get published in our site!
And Merry Christmas!
Other articles for you:
What Is The True Meaning Of Christmas? Hint: It Goes Far Beyond Religion
6 Amazing Christmas Gifts To Make The World A Better Place
5 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Steal From Friends If You Still Don’t Have Your Own
