The Promise: A Christmas Tale

I imagine this story first being told as a bedtime story for Ted's children...perhaps I am wrong, but please don't shatter my illusions. The Promise is a wonderful book that can be read aloud to younger viewers. Its beautiful illustrations further its appeal to children. Don't be turned off by that or its small size, The Promise is a Dekker tale in microcosm...a modern-day parable meant to encourage, excite, and teach.

An unusual and unique christmas short story. A young boy grows up mistreated and unloved by all except his adopted mother. When she dies he finds it hard to hold out for hope that he will be loved again or even needed.

This was an amazing book. My entire family loved it. We read it at Christmas time and it brought the true meaning of Christmas to the forfront of our Christmas celebration. Very moving!

You've heard it said that dynamite comes in rather small packages. Well, consider this just that, because it might be just a few pages, but it explodes in a way that only dynamite could dream of! Last I knew, dynamite can't exactly dream. My wife and I decided that we'd get both of Dekker's Christmas books in one package for the whole family. So, in a way, you get a great story, and if you have kids, then there are pictures throughout the whole thing. The pictures have just as much impact as the words Dekker so thoughtfully composes on the page. The story is so meaningful. It is the story of young Rueben, who is a mute boy. Before his mother dies, she gives him her shawl, and the promise that a king will one day give him a voice. So despite his mother, Rueben is hated by most people, simply because he is an orphan. And he is made fun of mercilessly by Jude, his guardian, and laughed at by others. He is teased at the fact that he carries around the shawl around as well. After all, what purpose could a shawl possibly have with a mute boy? The ending might seem rather obvious, but just see if it doesn't touch you. I'll let you in on a secret... IT WILL! And it has some of the suspense you expect with a Ted Dekker read. So Dekker doesn't give you a 400 page thriller with this one... OH WELL! It wasn't meant to be. It was meant to be short, sweet, sometimes a bit sour, and it hits the heart of the spirit of Christmas. It puts beautiful meaning to that blessed night when our Jesus was born! This was meant to touch some hearts in a big way through a small offering from Ted Dekker! He is not only to be commended for that, but thanked with a whole heart, and that's a lot of thanks. Thank you, Ted Dekker! Christmas is made just a little brighter with reads like these. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!