Julia Justiss: Thoughts on a CarolThe theme of my Christmas story is miracles—the original title was “Merry’s Christmas Miracle”—though this refers not so much to supernatural happenings as to having something wondrous occur long past the time when one has given up all hope of it. Meredyth Wellingford, who lost her chance to wed when her fiancé was killed in India, believes it impossible to find again a love like the one she once knew. But as all true romantics know, miracles do happen—especially at Christmastime!
I have to admit, the real reason my favorite carol is my favorite is because it has beautiful harmony and a wonderful alto line. Having sung in choirs since I was six years old (and thus probably holding the world record for the number of “d”s sung in a lifetime—fellow altos, you know the note I mean) I was thrilled to discover the interwoven melodies in the old German carol, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” 
Incidentally, the song just happens to feature miracles, beginning with a “floweret bright” blooming “amid the cold of winter.” (Yes, I’m a passionate gardener too.) Even non-gardeners know roses do not bloom in the snow, yet the lyricist has us believe that God’s love allowed the rose, Mary—a virgin no less, another miracle--to bear a midwinter child who would “from Sin and Death now save us/and share our every load.”
I find unison melodies boring, preferring the complexity of interwoven chords. Which probably explains why secondary characters are so important in my stories; I like my heroes and heroines to reveal themselves not just in relationship to each other, but by interacting with a range of people who add richness and depth to their character.
Love, human as well as divine, truly is a miracle that can help us bear all our burdens, illuminate our lives with joy and spur us to acts of unselfish heroism of which we would never have believed ourselves capable. May you find and cherish such miracles at Christmas and always!
