I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of newsletters stuffed in with all the Christmas cards I receive. Here is a newsletter I might have written. Hey… just cut and paste it, edit in your own names, and you’ll be all ready with a newsletter for next Christmas. Nobody will know you used a ghostwriter. LOL! Enjoy.--------------------
Here it is, 3 days before Christmas, and I still haven’t mailed a single Christmas card. Patti, of course, has mailed dozens… to family, associates, and neighbors… but I’m in charge of getting Christmas cards sent out to all the special people in MY life. Because you ARE special, and because you have touched my life in a unique or profound way, you continue to get a card from me at Christmas. OK, OK… it usually arrives AFTER Christmas, but I do (usually) send them out. Besides, who couldn’t benefit from extending a time of peace and goodwill a little longer? Did you know that Christmas actually begins the 12 Days of Christmas? So, since the celebration of our Savior and King extend out to Epiphany, when the Wise Men brought their gifts, it seems appropriate that my meager gift of a card arrive near that time, too.
So many folks like to take this time to help keep us all up-to-date on what’s going on in their lives. That’s usually nice, since most of them are actually counting their blessings, rather than giving us a litany of their woes. I always feel some perverse responsibility to read all the Christmas newsletters I receive… in their entirety. With newsletters, I think that people take this concept of ‘giving’ entirely too far; they give us WAY too much information! Seriously, most newsletter recipients don’t care about Uncle Floyd’s hip replacement… let alone even know Uncle Floyd. And though the family pet is surely beloved, who really needs to hear about the gerbil’s irregularity? We all know the dark side of holiday newsletters, yet so many of us send them. The obvious question is: WHY?
I think that most of us that participate in the Christmas card tradition do so because we enjoy the concept of staying connected to people we care about. There are people on my list that get cards from me because I formed a close bond with them more than 20 years ago. We never see each other anymore, but we still exchange Christmas cards. I love to hear that they are enjoying grandkids, travel, or involvement in something that keeps them fired up. Some people I see every day, but they get a card, as well. For me, at least, the very action of sending Christmas cards allows me to take a moment (at least once a year), and inventory all the wonderful friends I have been blessed with over the years.
So… this year, while sticking your address label on the envelope, and while signing your card, know that I have lifted YOU up in prayer. My prayer for you is a reflection of the Christmas season: that you KNOW the joy and the peace of Christ! This is the joy and the peace that I know in MY life. Don’t just count the blessings in your life, enjoy them, and… share them.
Merry Christmas, and blessings in the New Year!!!
Your brother in Christ,
Dave
Dave, when you posted this I read it almost as soon as it was up, but I was in the midst of my own Christmas card and newsletter, being delayed by several glitches but wanting to send a greeting anyway to those who treat me as a friend. I thought it was hilarious timing! I too wrote a newsletter again this year. It was more fun when Diehl put in his humorous twist and drew funny illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI too read every one I get. I enjoy (mostly) learning what people have been up to and wish I were closer geographically to many so we could chat over tea.
Dave, you are one of the many blessings in friendship. Merry Christmas (I did send you a card but it will probably arrive after Christmas day!...)
Happy 2nd day of Christmas! I always wondered with negative surprise at my Lutheran mother who, as soon as the presents were all given out and unwrapped, would exclaim, "There's nothing so over as Christmas!" One of the things I miss about having no close Lutheran church is the after Christmas Day Sunday which still has Christmas Carols, and then Epiphany. The world gets all wrapped up in hurry hurry get done before the day, then it's all over fast, get on to the new things you want to do. Without spending much time revelling (however quietly) in the greatest gift, in the quiet afterwards still focusing on what God has done for US, instead of on to more hurry. Peace to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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