Christmas Cards
I finally got my Christmas cards all done and mailed today. I was just going to send cards with no Christmas letter. In years past I’ve sort of set the bar too high by writing a Christmas poem about our year, and I just wasn’t feeling that creative this year.
I started to do a Christmas letter with pictures two nights ago, but couldn’t get the pictures do what I wanted in Word. So I gave up. When I told my husband I was thinking of not doing a letter, he said, “But you are so good with words, don’t let the picture problems stop you.”
Then this morning my son asked me what I was writing in our Christmas cards. I replied, “Their name at the top, and Love, Linda, Randy, and Benton at the bottom.” “Lame,” he said. Or was it more like, “Laaaaaaame!”
Next I talked to my mother-in-law on the phone and mentioned I was finishing Christmas cards, but hadn’t written a letter. She said they had received three cards today and two didn’t even have letters. “We love getting all the Christmas letters,” she said.
So I wrote a Christmas letter telling about our trip to New York City, my son’s 10th grade exploits, my husband’s backpacking adventures, my ventures into blogging, and how our dog and cat are taking good care of us. I closed with this wish and prayer:
We hope this Christmas you are blessed by the most wonderful Christmas gift of all, Immanuel, God with us! May the joy of God’s love found in a manger dwell in your hearts forever.
Even if you are not on my Christmas card list, this wish and prayer is for you, too! Christmas is just a few days away and I pray that, in the midst of all the busyness of the season, you don’t miss the wonder of what this celebration is all about. Peace and Merry Christmas!
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Linda,
I have not come from a culture where we write Christmas cards but am now in the land where everyone writes Christmas cards to everyone, regardless of what they believe. However, your letter and the beautiful words below struck me as sincere and beautiful beacuse your wish was perfect in that you wished us to have Immanuel. What more can we ask for?
Thank you and wish you a very special Christ-filled Christmas season and a wonderful new year ahead.
In Christ,
Vineet
Vineet, I love to receive Christmas cards, and so that is why I send them. But I am always careful to buy cards that express the love of Christ, not generic “Seasons Greetings” cards. I agree, what more can we ask for during this season and throughout the year than Immanuel! If He is with me, I can’t go wrong. May He bless you and your family in 2011 and beyond. Peace and Merry Christmas, Linda
I’m with Deb. Too many chores to do for the season. Deep breath. And a very Merry “i get letters from you every day” Christmas to you and yours.
Craig, my Christmas chores are almost done. I just have some presents to wrap, cookies and pie to make, and making Christmas dinner (we’re having honey ham this year). The important thing is to not let all of the “chores” become a burden that distracts us from the gift of the Christ child. Merry Christmas, Linda
Thank you, Linda
That’s very beautiful of you 🙂 I was dreading the thought of writing my ‘year in review’ letter but you’ve given me hope.
A very, Merry Christmas to you and your family. May 2011 be the year you’ve been waiting for!
Blessings always,
ann
Ann, Thank you for the new year’s prayer! Same to you. Peace, Linda
That was a beautiful closing to your letter. Just perfect. You know, for several years now I’ve thought maybe I just won’t send out cards. I try to look for things to cut out, to simplify, to make it less stressful. But so far, I always end up doing it. ha! I don’t do a wonderful letter like you do . . .but I love to get them! I’ve wanted to make my own cards, but haven’t done that yet. Some years I’ve included an original Christmas poem, whatever He gave me for that year. Thank you for this special card and for inspiring me in what I can do in the years to come.
love and blessed Christmas!
deb
Deb, I think about not doing cards every year, but I always end up doing them. I have the school pictures that will go to waste if I don’t put them in Christmas cards! I think this is the closest I’ve gotten to Christmas to actually send them, though. I think one of your original Christmas poems would be a wonderful addition to a card. You write such wonderful poems! Peace, Linda