This collection of short stories involve characters and locales influenced by the Christmas season. In 'The Surrogate', Gerald had been taught the principles for right-living at his mother's knee, but he has been lax in putting them into practice. His life is a success by all modern measurements, i.e., social standing, wealth, and professional accomplishment. So, why the nagging discontent? What was he still missing that he had not already acquired? Sometimes we are being watched over, and our path guided from above. Gerald finds out that unexpected people can sometimes come into our lives, bringing important messages, if we are ready to hear them. In 'The Final Coup de Grace', dedication, love, nurturing, and sacrifice define a mother's attendance to her only child. Years of doing without, can result in saving nothing for one's old age. Years of worrying about all possible scenarios that might affect their wellbeing, make for prematurely grey hair and years of stress and angst. The hard work, expense, and unnamed fears take their toll. But it is all worth it when you see them accomplish their life's purpose, and reach the pinnacle of success. Or is it? The funny thing about motherhood is that it is thankless. There are no guarantees that they will one day acknowledge and appreciate the boundless generosity and love. "Your children are only yours on loan," it has been said. A mother resigns herself to accepting whatever comes, even if that is extinction. In 'A Mother's Heart', we see that all mothers have an instinct to provide unequalled love and care for their offspring. It is nature's way of safeguarding the vulnerable fledglings, and protecting them against harm. But will those years of maternal ministrations be strong enough to ward off evil when her charge finally flies off from the safety of her nest? It is impossible to predict. So many temptations and traps can distract them from achieving a better destiny. Will the strength and character they have developed, by virtue of their mother's sacrifices and selfless heart, see them through such challenges in the wider world? In 'Sanctum', can the world and its vices finally catch up with someone whose life has been spent in righteous service to humanity? Can the overwhelming reality of pervasive sin, bring the stalwart to their knees. Could such paragons ever resign or capitulate to despair when witnessing the Devil's widespread allegiance? When the weight of one's own sense of culpability drags them down to unrecoverable depths of despair, will that decline and slide into spiritual bankruptcy, bring any hope for salvation? Will one man's life of constant vigilance ultimately safeguard him against the Devil's' influence and power? In 'A Family of Equals', we explore the concept of true Family. Usually it conveys a specific group made up of an assortment of direct or indirect descendants of a clan and its shared culture. Each one considers the others kindly, no matter who they are or what they bring to the group. It means complete, unconditional acceptance regardless of temperament, variabilities in nature, and the diverse talents they can bring for the group's common benefit and betterment. Love in an all-inclusive household means a 'family of equals', where there is no differentiation between its members. This family is particularly special. In 'Patience if a Virtue', a headstrong and defiant girl is destined for a life of hard knocks unless she softens her outlook and assumes a more generous nature. Exasperated by her lack of sensitivity to others, her parents and the whole town are exasperated beyond words. How can such a girl ever hope to achieve maturity and the humility needed to coexist with others in society? Surprisingly, Patience solves her own dilemma and discovers that her special qualities sand attributes can serve her just as well, when selfless motivations ensue.