About The Novel
Mrs. McCready, one of The Lord’s Elect, has lost touch with the Joy within her. And just before Christmas! But Santa’s Joy Elf, an elderly elf named Frank, is looking to retire. So “The Saint” assigns a young elf named Lim’rick to serve as Frank’s apprentice, and to help Mrs. McCready find her way back to one of God’s greatest gifts – her inner Joy.
Lim’rick has a lot to learn about the true nature of Joy, and how this sacred “fruit of the Spirit” differs from fun, frivolity, humor, and entertainment. How is it, he wonders, that in a world where so many people constantly seek to keep themselves “entertained,” so few are truly happy? Why isn’t all this “fun” working for them?
Mrs. McCready and The Joy Elf is a delightful holiday story that imagines a connection between the spiritual mystery of Life and the secular Santa Claus mythology that’s become so popular in our modern world.
Michael Hume, the story’s creator, is the international bestselling author of The Innkeeper of Bethlehem and The 95th Christmas, and the award-winning singer/songwriter who produced The Christmas In Me. During the summer of 2024, he completed a 272-mile walk to a desert monastery retreat, forsaking all screens for seven weeks, and this story – Mrs. McCready and The Joy Elf – is one of the blessings he brought back.
Merry Christmas!
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Reviews
“…Connect with the Joy within…”
Frank, an elderly Joy Elf, is about to retire, and Santa assigns Lim’rick to him as an apprentice. Lim’rick’s first assignment is to help Mrs McCready find the joy within her. Surrounded by daemons that plague her with negative thoughts and memories, Mrs McCready, one of the Lord’s Elect, has lost touch with her joy. As Lim’rick strives to help with this assignment, he is aided by The Nine, Santa’s elves who are the physical representatives of the fruits of the Spirit. They help him learn more about daemons, elves who have fallen from grace and now work for the Father of Lies, tormenting humans on earth, and the true meaning of joy. Can Lim’rick help Mrs McCready find the joy within her before Christmas? Find out in Mrs McCready and The Joy Elf by Michael Hume.
At a time when gifts are being exchanged and there is festivity in the air, Michael Hume likes to remind us of the true nature of joy. Joy is not given, joy is not fickle, and joy is different from fun, entertainment, or jokes. Joy is an innate gift of God to us, ‘a clever joke the Father tells the Son inside us.’ Indelible, yet sometimes dormant. Hume urges us to connect with the Joy within us. I look forward to this continuing as a series of holiday mythology mixed with the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, faith, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and temperance. A positive Christmas story, Mrs McCready and The Joy Elf will delight and educate readers.
– Mimie O., Readers Favorite
11/19/24
“…Give the holiday season a more meaningful appreciation…”
Michael Hume’s Mrs. McCready and the Joy Elf tells the tale of Lim’rick, a young toy factory floor elf chosen to work as an apprentice for the retiring Joy Elf, Frank, one of the nine special elf assistants to Santa. Each of them embodies one of the nine Fruits of the Spirit which are Love, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, and of course, Joy. Lim’rick’s first assignment is to find the inner joy that Mrs. McCready lost when her husband passed away. He learns that real joy or happiness goes deeper than the preoccupation with frivolity, entertainment, and humor. Like the rest of the Fruits of the Spirit, it is a divine gift that should be nurtured. With the assistance and guidance of the other special elves, Lim’rick also realizes that reviving Mrs. McCready’s joy won’t be simple, but it’s not impossible. Will he succeed in bringing her out of the doldrums? Will she ever remember the joy she once experienced and appreciate the love and happiness that the Christmas season can bring?
Author Michael Hume cleverly combines popular Christmas folklore, seasonal elements, and whimsy with a biblical lesson. He uses the charm of an uncomplicated plot to make Mrs. McCready and the Joy Elf relatable. Shallowness, superficiality, dejection, healing, and the biblical Fruits of the Spirit are the themes found in the narrative. The language is simple but has good wordplay, witticism, and the ability to provoke thought and insight. The North Pole elves are memorable and amusing as they keep up the yuletide spirit. Still, just like the human characters, they are portrayed as multifaceted beings. The inclusion of bizarre, fallen elf characters acknowledges the existence of negative influences that occasionally try to disrupt our lives. A highly recommended read for those who love a good Christmas story that subtly blends spiritual reflection and values to give the holiday season a more meaningful appreciation, especially for those who look forward to celebrating it.
– Carmen T., Readers Favorite
11/26/24
“…Will fill your heart with hope and happiness”
Mrs. McCready and the Joy Elf is a Christian story for the festive season by Michael Hume. Lim’rick is surprised when Santa assigns him as the head of the Department of Joy, and he is plunged headfirst into his first assignment. Mrs. McCready no longer shows joy, and Lim’rick is told to help her right away. The eight other lead elves, Love, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance, support Lim’rick during his first assignment. Lim’rick learns to communicate with Mrs. McCready through her dreams, but a daemon tries to stand in his way. As Lim’rick digs deeper into her past, he discovers the source of her discontent and vows to help her find something she never really lost.
Michael Hume knows how to put himself directly into the sometimes curly-toed shoes of his characters. Instead of Christmas wishes from Santa, the book explores the idea that Santa receives his directions from God. The elves serve like angels and provide divine intervention for the “Elite”, which may be the distinction of every human since we are all God’s children. The story raises important discussion points about the source of true joy and provides a lesson as young readers are entertained. Readers must ask themselves if Lim’rick is helping Mrs. McCready find joy or leading her back to something she had all along. Filled with love, miracles, and the power of God, Mrs. McCready and the Joy Elf is a beautiful story that will fill your heart with hope and happiness.
– Courtnee T. H., Readers Favorite
11/30/24
