Information on the Christmas House
The Christmas House is a moving biographical writing by Georja
Skinner published by the New World Library in the Fall 2005.
The Christmas House talks about George Skinner, a 22 year
old who was stricken with polio in 1934. His father and the
people of his community generated in him the great desire
to recover and learn to walk again. He desperately wanted
to repay the people for the kindness they showed him. George
did recover, learned to walk, and left the hospital.
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George built an outdoor display which caught the attention
of the community. Newspapers feature his efforts and organizations
in the community donated time and supplies for the project.
Churches, children, and adult provided choirs and food to
everyone who came to see the house decorated with special
holiday lights – the Christmas house. The admiration
and help of the community further healed George. His daughter
later learned of his tragic secret and his hidden desire for
forgiveness that changed not only his life but also the lives
of the people in his community. The Christmas House is a story
about the great power of dreams that empower common people
to do extraordinary things.
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The underlying motivation in the heart of George is the
spirit of Christmas and courage to fight the debilitating
disease. He won. Christmas House is a story about a hero
who truly changed himself and his world. By sharing the
story of her father, the author shared the empowerment of
her father to the readers of the book, and most especially
to polio-stricken people and their families. Without someone
to tell their tales, the simple heroism of common people
can become lost in history and what could be gleaned as
lessons from their lives will be lost in forgetfulness.
The example of heroism can now be emulated by the readers,
no matter the conditions in life. It also relates the social
responsibility of the community to empower victims of pain,
disease, and poverty.
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