Here it is the end of January and all Christmas decorations have been packed away for a couple of weeks. Funny, I still can’t put away our special basket filled with Holiday cards. I want to savor them a little longer and give them another thoughtful glance.

I have always been a big believer of sending out Christmas cards and I cannot express to you how thankful I am that I took extra time each year to capture a photo of our three delightful children with bright smiles. I would carefully tuck inside the family Christmas letter. Oh, we had so much to be thankful for and we truly were aware of how blessed we were but I tried to add some news, sprinkled with some self depreciating humor and more humor and my icing on the cake was a touch of our devotion to our faith. I had the formula. People would tell me they so looked forward to receiving our card. It made them laugh. It’s important isn’t it? Not to take ourselves too seriously?

In 2014, when without warning our daughter Natalie perished in the landing of a hot air balloon she was riding in. The thoughts of a Christmas card was the furthest thing from my mind. The sending out of Christmas cards was over indeed. But thankfully, friends, family, even acquaintances kept sending them to us. Year after year. Faithfully keeping us on their list. And the appreciation was truly heartwarming. Aren’t you always so appreciative for the people who send you their card year after year when you don’t reciprocate?

Along comes 2020. Along comes a year we stayed home. Little did I know that the Covid19 virus would flood my thoughts with appreciation of the privilege of living in the same home for three decades. I decided to hire someone to have a sketch of our home drawn and write a little piece of the sentiments of owning a home that you raise your family in, and when you experience so much in life your home is standing tall waiting for you to welcome you back inside. Nothing about our grown children, nothing self deprecating, no humor but real thoughts.

It’s easy to give reasons why Christmas cards are not necessary anymore. There is cost involved, postal service is not what it use to be, there is time involved, you may think you don’t really matter and the big reason is social media. Goodness sakes, we are so connected to one another on Facebook and Instagram with endless photos of everyone’s kids, meals, home improvements, trips and pets. It’s over kill.

But that is where you are wrong. A Christmas card is more meaningful than a like on your post or even a quick comment on your post. It’s a tradition that is truly an honor to be part of other peoples lives. It’s a feeling of joy to receive mail and find cards to open and not tax bills. It’s a card that you can hold in your hand and examine. You can decorate with your Christmas cards and have them on display. It’s value. Instead of a simple text message, it’s a validation that you are meaningful to the person who sends you a card and to the ones that you send too.

So please don’t think that Christmas cards are just merely routine. For just knowing people on my Christmas card list shows that you are part of our lives. The biggest gift that life can give  are relationships you have formed. It’s the Spirit of Christmas and sending cards that I pray will forever and ever will endure.

 

 

 

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