Award-Winning Christmas Book Helps with Holiday Shopping Craze

Tramplings, all night stake-outs, shoppers running to get sales and stealing merchandise from other people's shopping carts. It's Christmas time again! As Black Friday draws near, beginning this year on Thanksgiving Day, shoppers are already caught up in the consumerist frenzy that has caused many people to question whether this tradition has any place preceding a holiday that promotes "peace on earth and good will to men."

This year's hit Christmas book, Gift of a Servant by Tamara Amos, which has taken home 13 book awards, addresses the issue of what it refers to as "holiday hysteria," asserting that this commercial trend has marred the simplicity and spirituality of a very important and beloved past time and gives an alternative approach to the custom of gift-giving by refocusing readers on the love that is behind it.

Author and mother of four, Tamara Amos, tells the story of a father who tries unsuccessfully to get into the Christmas spirit because he is disheartened by the scene taking place outside his window of hysterical holiday shoppers. Reminiscing over a simpler time, Dad blames Santa Claus for this turn of events and decides to wait up for him on Christmas Eve to demand his resignation. When Santa arrives, however, he shares with the man the reason for his annual visit: to bring 'gifts of love from heaven above' to children everywhere so that they understand, through these symbolic presents, God's immense love for them and to inspire them to join him on this important quest to spread love across the world.

"Giving gifts is a wonderful way to show someone that you love them. When the focus shifts onto the gift itself instead of the reality it represents, we experience a great spiritual loss," says Tamara Amos. "Shifting our perspective by filling it with the glowing light of love will restore peace to our souls, warmth to our hearts, and holiness to our holiday."

Tamara Amos doesn't neglect her shopping, though. She grew up with and continues the tradition of waking up on Christmas morning to a shower of gifts. "Christmas is about immeasurable love showered upon us by God and it is about loving one another without restraint. No wonder we get carried away! But the important thing is that we don't let the tradition take on a life of its own that drives us all crazy and deep into debt. We must make intentional changes that preserve and highlight the spiritual richness of a cherished holiday."

Gift of a Servant is a gift book published in 2013 by Mystical Rose Inspirations, written by Tamara Amos, and illustrated by David W. Luebbert. It is available in deluxe hardcover, e-book, and kindle editions. It is also available as a video presentation for churches, schools, and ministries. More information can by found on the website: http://www.giftofaservant.com

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