Papa's Song -- The Story Behind the Story

The Hunsaker Family, Christmas 1993

It was December of 1993 when Papa's Song happened.  I was a junior at the university and life was coming to a bend in the road.  During the Christmas break, I had several touching moments at home with my family.  The most memorable was on Christmas Eve, when Papa rocked me by the tree for the last time, singing a song he had sung to me every Christmas for as long as I could remember.



As the Christmas holidays drew to a close, I needed an essay for a story contest. I wrote Papa's Song late one night, recalling the events of the week before around our Christmas tree.  I wondered if our simple family tradition might touch other hearts.

I submitted the manuscript by the January 1st deadline, and was surprised when, several weeks later, I received a letter informing me that I had won 3rd place.  I was pleased and excited and thought that the story of our family Christmas Eve tradition had fulfilled its destiny.

Two years later, in December 1995, I was serving as a volunteer missionary in Ube, Japan.  I recall a grey, windy December day when I opened a packet of mail from the states and a copy of the New Era fell into my lap.  Papa's Song was featured in the magazine, along with a beautiful oil painting depicting my dad rocking me.

  

 

"This looks just like Papa!" I thought, noting the balding head and glasses.  

"This also looks just like me!" I realized as I saw the long, brown hair and fuzzy slippers.  I determined that the magazine editors and artist must have contacted my parents in Utah for a family photo to use as a sample.  

However, during a phone call home, I learned that my parents were equally amazed by the very close resemblance of the painting to Papa and me.  They contacted the artist, Keith Larson, in New York City, who told them he had used models for the painting.  I believe he was inspired in his illustration.

A year later, in December 1996, I was surprised to learn that Papa's Song was featured in the Liahona, an international magazine, and the story had consequently been published in 23 languages.

During the following decade, I had siblings serve around the globe as missionaries. My family learned how Papa's Song touched people in many nations.  In Russia, my sister Katie met a girl who immediately recognized our last name, Hunsaker, from the story.  My brother, Tommy, in Brazil, found a copy in Portuguese; our German friends read the story; and friends in Japan called me when they saw the Japanese translation. Papa's Song had reached hearts throughout the world.

Our son was born in 1997, and on his first Christmas Eve my husband rocked him by the Christmas Tree. Every Christmas Eve since then, my husband has rocked each of our children in turn, singing my Papa's Christmas song.

Papa's Song was included in a compilation of Christmas stories published by Deseret Book in 2002, and I heard feedback from more people who were touched by the message.

I was working in the kitchen on a July day in 2010 when I felt that it was time to publish Papa's Song as a stand-alone Christmas booklet.  I immediately set about securing permission to include the sheet music, Christmas Lullaby by Peggy Lee and Cy Coleman.  By early November the first books were printed, and by December the first printing had sold out.  The second printing sold out the following Christmas and the third printing was on shelves in September 2013. During the Christmas season 2014 the booklet sold out online and in bookstores.

Papa's Song is available again this year at Deseret Book:  Order Here

A version of Christmas Lullaby can also be viewed on Youtube.

I have been overwhelmed with stories shared by readers of feeling love, peace, and the arms of a comforting Heavenly Father through reading Papa's Song.  Others have shared how their homes have been touched by a new tradition and a revived Christmas carol.  

Coincidentally, during Christmas of 2013 my husband and I lived in my parents' home while they served as missionaries overseas. My husband rocked our children by the Christmas tree, in the same place that Papa rocked me twenty years earlier.

I believe in Christmas.  I believe in the power of music, and of traditions, and of love.

It is my sincere desire that readers and families everywhere will feel the spirit of Christmas in their homes and consider making Papa's Song part of their family traditions.