Tues., Dec. 11, 2018

Jeremiah 29:25a – “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, 

This is a fun time of the year to go to the mailbox. Why?

Christmas cards.

Do you like receiving Christmas cards?

I do.

And this is why I send Christmas cards.

Each year, I look at the Excel spreadsheet where I keep names and addresses of those families, I have historically sent cards … and promise myself to cut the list down. And every year, I end up adding more to the list and justifying those on the list.

Yep, there are many names on this list I only hear from once a year. People who have been in my life for awhile and who I just don’t have as much contact. And there are names on the list who I do not receive a card back. Yet, I still want to send them a Christmas greeting.

Yes, there are some families I would like to share more of my life. But in an interest to get the cards out before Valentine’s Day, I only write in a few cards each year. The rest? They get the computer-generated and Walgreens printed card with a few pictures on it.

Yet, I try and take a few minutes and remember each family as I put their card together. As I put the address label on the card, our return address label as well as the stamp, I say a quick prayer for this family. It’s probably less than a minute … but I way that I lift each family up.

On Saturday, Hubby Rick and I attended a grandson’s wrestling tournament. I brought along a bag with boxes of cards and envelopes as well as sheets of stamps and labels. The middle-school boy just down from me on the bleachers kept looking at me. I think he was trying to figure out what I was doing, as I sat there putting together my Christmas cards and praying for each one as I did so. I think I was the only one out of hundreds, and I mean hundreds, at this tournament who was putting together their Christmas cards. I call it planning ahead.

Christmas cards are not as vogue as they once were. Some people feel they connect with people on social media and thus, no cards are necessary. Or don’t feel or want to take the time to send.

Personally, this is one Christmas tradition I enjoy and want to continue. Why? Because I pray this is an opportunity for me to connect with as well as bless each family, I sent a card to as well as each family I receive a card from.

Today when I got home from work, Rick had a stack of cards on the coffee table. Today’s haul of Christmas cards. As I opened and read and looked at the photos in each card, again, I said a quick little prayer for each family. Whether I know everything going on in this family’s life or not, God does. I can simply ask God to pour out a special blessing on each family and ask God to be with them, whatever they may be experiencing. And I’m thankful these families took time to send us a card … because they mean the world to me.

For Christmas greetings and cards, I am grateful.

Lord God – 2,000 years ago, letters were how people communicated. We have these letters in our New Testament yet today: Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians and others. I pray as we prepared, send and receive cards we can create holy moments of blessing and connection with these families. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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