CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-based TV anchor Sarah French is used to telling stories through her role as a reporter and anchor for WCNC-TV. Recently, however, she turned her storytelling skills to the printed page to help children get back to the Christian origins of a now secularized Christmas holiday.
“I was looking for a book for my kids that told the story of Jesus’ birth but also explained the origin of Santa Claus in the very real person who was St. Nicholas, and I couldn’t find one,” French said. “So, I decided to write my own.”
The result is her new, colorful children’s book “A Beautiful Story: Jesus and St. Nick,” which tells the narratives of both Jesus’ birth and the life of St. Nicholas. Born in the third century to a wealthy family, the early Christian bishop became known for his tradition of distributing his family’s wealth through secret gift-giving to the needy, which eventually evolved into the modern secular figure of Santa Claus, or, more affectionately, “St. Nick.”
“I have two kids and I love history, so I enjoy teaching them about why we celebrate certain holidays and traditions,” French said.
“I was amazed people didn’t realize that St. Nicholas was a real person. I wanted my kids and others to know that the man behind the tradition of Santa Claus was a real follower of Christ.”
She first wrote up the story about two years ago, using a scrapbooking website to create the layout she envisioned for the book.
French eventually got connected with illustrator Robert Sauber, who worked with her to bring her initial visions to life on the printed page.
Released Sept. 12, the book also explores the origins of common holiday traditions such as hanging up stockings and the Dec. 6 feast day of St. Nicholas, which includes the custom of children leaving their shoes outside their doors so the visiting saint can leave gifts in them.
“When I first held the book, I remember thinking that I hope it’s a blessing for the people who read it,” French said. “The heart of the story is both Jesus and St. Nicholas, a man who thought about other people and gave to other people. My goal is to have my kids show Christ’s love to others – that’s our job as parents – and I hope this book can help teach other kids not only about our traditions, but also a lesson about sharing and giving.”
French’s late grandmother, who passed away in March, was one of her main inspirations for the book because she was a strong woman of faith who loved Christmas, often keeping her decorations up all year long, French said.
The book is currently available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble and will soon be on sale at select local bookstores.
— Christina L. Knauss