Christmas Tapestry

Polacco, Patricia.  The Christmas Tapestry. NY: Puffin Books, 2002.

                Jonathan Jefferson Weeks is devastated when his father accepts a call to a church in Detroit Michigan. After living most of his life in the South – Memphis, TN where his father pastored a church with a beautiful building, he is devastated when he sees the facilities attached to his ministry to which his family has been called. The snow and ice around Christmas only complicate matters. When, he and his father purchase a cloth to cover a glaring flaw in the sanctuary wall, interesting things begin to happen.  Jonathan and his father meet a woman on the bus. They offer her a ride home after they leave the  bus when they near the church.  As the woman views the cloth hanging there, she recognizes it as  the coverlet that was to adorn her bed many years ago, but tragic things happened.  She returns to her home.  When the plasterer comes to inspect the wall, he, too recognizes the cloth; they were ripped apart years ago by the events of the Holocaust. Jonathan and his father reunite the couple now well advanced in years.  As Jonathan sits in his Christmas Eve service, he sees with contentment and satisfaction why his family moved … they were part of a bigger plan.  

                This story circulated around the internet several years ago and in varying forms as fact.  According to the snopes.com at that time, it is purely legend. In the back of the book, Polacco attributes the story to the Hour of Power and Robert Schuller, a well-known television preacher. Even though, it is most likely, purely fiction.  I think it is a remarkable story. It is illustrative of the verses in Psalm 37:23 … “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord …” God directs our steps as Jonathan and his father learned. Do not expect overtly Christian themes from Polacco’s works.  This work is more the exception than the rule.  Although, I believe it is possible to read any work redemptively and see God’s hand therein.

            Her illustrations are unique, as she is both author and illustrator.  She has a distinct style.  Perhaps that is one reason I am drawn to her writings. I feel like I know her characters. I know them by word and I know them by face.  There is a familiarity to her writings, and while there is a certain depth contained, I have to acknowledge that her work often brings  a level of literary comfort food to my bookshelf.