The Open Word e-Devotional
Published: Fri, 12/12/25
Hello, In 1649, King Charles I of England stood on a scaffold facing e ecution. Monarchs are born to rule, not to die. Yet here was a king walking…
Published: Thu, 12/11/25
Hello, In 1964, archaeologists discovered a letter written by a Roman soldier stationed far from home. In it, he begged his family to “pray to the…
Published: Wed, 12/10/25
Hello, I'm no fan of Santa Claus, but the following story is illustrative of a larger theme: In 1913, the Post Office allowed children to send letters…
Published: Tue, 12/09/25
Hello, When Queen Victoria ruled England, it was said that when she entered a room, everyone stood — not just out of respect for her crown, but…
Published: Mon, 12/08/25
Hello, In 1879, when Thomas Edison lit up a street in Menlo Park with the first practical incandescent bulb, witnesses said people gasped. They had…
Published: Sun, 12/07/25
Hello, In 1936, Olympic runner Glenn Cunningham stunned the world. As a child, he had been trapped in a schoolhouse fire that burned his legs so…
Published: Sat, 12/06/25
Hello, In the 1600s, King Louis XIV of France was known as the “Sun King,” symbolizing unmatched glory. His royal garments glittered with gold thread,…
Published: Fri, 12/05/25
Hello, In 1910, e plorer Edward Shackleton was preparing for another Antarctic e pedition when he asked a young man if he wanted to join him. The man…
Published: Thu, 12/04/25
Hello, In 1854, during a bitter Boston winter, a young shoemaker named Edward Winslow noticed a child standing barefoot outside his shop window. Moved…
Published: Wed, 12/03/25
Hello, In 1796, a fierce blizzard swept across Austria just days before Christmas. In the small village of Oberndorf, a church’s pipe organ froze and…