The
Christmas season has officially begun. I
turned on the Christmas music yesterday.
I don’t know why, but it just seems wrong to begin celebrating before
Thanksgiving!
I
guess people were pretty excited in my town this year. The week before Thanksgiving you could view
Christmas lights and trees up everywhere. We could have taken a car tour around town and
had a full night of viewing if we wanted to!
Don’t
you just love all the holiday spirit…“Christmas movies, Christmas music playing
on your favorite radio station (everyday, all day long), special holiday beverages, bells ringing, and
decorations galore. Not to mention all
of the Christmas cards you get in the mail from those close to you and far away
spreading their Christmas cheer. It’s a
fun time of year!
I
like to get the Christmas cards where it says more than just a “Merry
Christmas” or “love so and so”. I like it
when people take the time to write a little note inside. It adds something special to the card. It says… I was thinking about you as I sent
this BEYOND just writing my name out.
It’s more personal that way. At
least, I think so.
I’ve
been trying to teach my oldest son the art of the “Thank You” card. He is going on a special mission’s trip with
his senior class in May to Costa Rica
Each
time we hear of a new sponsor, I have him send out a “Thank You” card. At first, he acted like it was a chore I was
making him do until he heard a recent response from a recipient. It was a lady from our church that said…
“This
is the first time I have EVER received a personal thank you from anyone I have
given money to for a trip at your school.”
It
really meant a lot to her. My son was
impressed. I reiterated to him that a
“Thank You” card is a personal way to show how much you appreciate what someone
else has done for you. It means a lot more
when you send it out in the mail… even if you could hand deliver it. It shows you planned ahead, thought of them,
and care. Sometimes the extra effort to
do the snail mail route says more. It’s
a nice surprise!
Have
you ever received an “Old-fashioned Hello” in YOUR mailbox? Something besides a Christmas card? Was it a “Thank You” card or maybe even a
hand-written letter. My husband and I
wrote letters to each other for a whole summer that we were apart in
college. I still have those special
notes and cards. I couldn’t wait for the
mail to come each day, hoping there was a special surprise for me!
Recently
I opened my mailbox to find a surprise.
It was an old school, handwritten letter (on lined paper and everything
with more than one page attached) from my cousin. I think she sent it to me as a challenge to
write her back in the same fashion. She
COULD have written me via Facebook message or email, but she chose this route.
I
left the hand addressed envelope and letter beside my computer for days to
remind me to write her back. It
tormented me. She lives in Germany
When
the letter arrived, it brought a flash of memories of her and me writing one
another as teenagers. We lived two hours
away from each other. It was our way of
staying connected. Long distance phone
calls were way too expensive back then. We
shared our life with one another on paper and it was special!
I
think somewhere along the way we have lost something with the progression of technology. I’m not saying all technology is bad, but
something is missing… and I think that something may be the art of the “Thank
You” card and the “Old-fashioned Hello”.
The personal touch that says I really care. It’s time we bring it back!
With
that in mind, I have a challenge for you.
Last year my family decided to keep up our Christmas cards. We left them hanging from the doorway
well past new years so we could pray for each family who sent us a card. It was amazing and so powerful! We even sent a picture of the card some sent
us months later to show them we prayed for them that night. It was awesome!
My
challenge is this…
I
dare you to send me a Christmas card this year.
But…not just any card. Send me
one with a special, personal note inside.
Of course put the “Merry Christmas” and the “from so and so” too, but
also write me a note of how we can pray for you this year.
This
gives you the chance to step out of your comfort zone and do something
“Old-fashioned. It also gives me the
chance to surprise my husband (Shhhh!!!). I want
all cards from this post to be sent to him at work (Faith Church
Send
cards to:
Al
& Julie Davis
I
dare you to get more personal when it comes to showing your love and
appreciation for others this year. Add a stamp and
make it special. The “Old-fashioned
Hello” never gets old. I promise!
Living
to leave a legacy,
Julie
