Monthly Archives: December 2014

Don’t Toss Those Christmas Cards

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Another Christmas in the books with great times shared by all. Now comes the dreaded decoration take down. Once more the routine of hauling boxes to and from the attic, everything packed away until next Thanksgiving. Exhausting isn’t it? The house returns to “normal”, and for a moment seems kind of bland. It’s as if that Christmas feeling is suddenly sucked out of the air, and I truly miss it. But of all the decorations I miss the most are the ones sent by family and friends, the Christmas cards.

Yes, in our household Christmas cards are decorations. We figured that if our friends and family take the time to send us a card we should do something special with them. So, we decorate with them as they come in. And when it’s time to take them down, we are left with the question of what to do with them. I hate throwing away Christmas cards. It feels as if I’m tossing away something special. For years we bundled them up with a rubber band, and stored them with the rest of the other decorations. But now we do something special with them. We pray for the ones who sent the cards.

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Beginning New Year’s Day, we take one card and pray as a family for the person or family who sent that particular card. Each day another card is drawn from the pile, and the senders of that card are prayed for.

This is a great way for you and your family to spend time together and focus attention on someone else. It teaches your kids about prayer, to think of others, and gives them a model to pass on to the next generation.

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Make this process fit for your family. If you can’t do this everyday, don’t worry. Just make it a part of your schedule and make it routine. It can be done at bedtime, or at the beginning of the family meal. You set the schedule.

The Apostle Paul urged Christians to encourage, build up, and pray for one another. Prayer for another is an act of Christian love. Jesus said people will know we are His by our love.

Christmas is about giving. The best gift we can give another person is to pray for him or her. Don’t toss those cards! Keep giving throughout this new year.

Peace

Yes there is a Santa Claus

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(Photo: Stained glass window in St. Nicholas Parish Church – Guisborough, England)

Yes world, there really is/was a Santa Claus. Or, a Saint Nicholas, as he was known in the 4th century. Known as the Bishop of Myra, Nicholas’ wealthy parents died when he was young leaving him financially secure. After being raised by an uncle and later ordained as a priest, Nicholas gained a reputation for helping the poor, especially children.

One story tells of a poor man who had three daughters. Without money for a dowry for each of his girls, the father knew his daughters would have no future, be unmarried, and have to resort to prostitution as a means of earning a living. Nicholas wanted to help, and during the middle of one night, threw three bags of gold coins (one for each daughter) through the window of the man’s house. Legend has it that one of the bags fell into a stocking hanging to dry by the fire. This act of kindness helped secure the girls a much different future.

Nicholas lived a life of generosity, helping those in need. He was even called Saint Nicholas before he died, giving rise to the legend children know today as Santa Claus.

So next time your kids ask that inevitable question, you can honestly say, “Yes, there really was/is a Santa Claus. He exists in our hearts, and represents the spirit of Christmas through giving and helping others. Merry Christmas everyone!