I finished the Christmas cards yesterday and today they will go in the mail. This year we sent out 80 Christmas cards. That sounds like a lot, but taking time to keep up with 80 families once a year isn’t so much. I wrote about the effort of sending Christmas cards last year. This year seemed easier, largely because I just directed people to the blog. If you want to know what is going on with my life, just read the blog (thank you for reading the blog!).
I love getting Christmas cards. I love opening the envelope, usually hand-addressed. I love seeing the pictures of what families have been doing. I love reading about the ins and outs of the last year. Most of my friends aren’t annoyingly perfect (just practically perfect in every way), but the news is generally upbeat and I like seeing what people are doing. The Christmas cards I get are displayed in one of the few flat surfaces in the RV so I can see them as soon as I get in the door. I smile every time I see them.
But I don’t get as many Christmas cards as I used to, so it got me to wondering if Christmas cards are outdated. Several people have told me that Facebook helps people keep in touch and Christmas cards are too expensive. But what I hear when they say things like that is that they are too busy to take the time to write a Christmas card, put a stamp and address on it and send it.
I know people are busy and stressed and it is a hard time of year. When I was working, I often sent out “Boxing Day” cards, or Happy New Year cards, or even (one year) Valentine’s Day cards. Getting an e-mail Christmas card, or even worse, a Facebook card, is like getting an invitation via Facebook. I’m not sure it is really meant for me. If you are too busy and stressed at Christmas to send out cards – fine. Send them out after Christmas. Maybe you will start a new tradition!
Because I love getting Christmas cards, I will continue to send Christmas cards. I enjoy thinking of each person and praying for them as I sign the cards, add a sentence or two, and address the envelope. Each of these people is precious to me and I want them to know that I am thinking of them all year, and especially at Christmas. If you are one of the people who regularly sends me a Christmas card – thank you very much. I love it!
How about you? Do you like to get Christmas cards? Do you send them to others? Are they old-fashioned and outdated? Let me know what you think!
Yes, they are old-fashioned, and yes, I still send some! While I agree that Facebook can feel impersonal, so can Christmas cards. I didn’t hand-address or even sign them this year – it was all I could do. But blogs and Facebook and other social media can also be MORE personal, in that it allows us to follow each others’ stories, not just to see one picture or read a quick, “Hello.” I know so much more about your life through social media – and we can even interact this way – than I would through a single card. So I think I’m going to keep doing both when I can. Love in Christ to you both for Christmas.
You are absolutely right! I am so thankful for all the different ways we can keep up with people we love. Texting, Facebook, cell phones, blogs and Christmas cards are all blessings of different kinds. Being able to keep in touch in so many different ways makes us feel less far from each other.
Thank you so much for the Christmas card we got yesterday – Fabian and I both smiled when we read it. I have not sent cards for years and Fabian can tell you that I have more Christmas cards in my closet than anyone should have. If he is with me in the stores, he won’t even let me look at them because my intentions are good every year, but the time seems to get away from me. WHAT A BAD EXCUSE!!! I do love getting them and need to make a better effort of sending them.
On another note, I used the Reader’s Digest Christmas Music Book you gave me for the sing along Sunday night. I think of you often and miss you very much, especially the last two Sunday’s.
Tell Tom he got out just in time 🙂
Love to you both! Mary
Good intentions must count for something! Everyone has so many wonderful things filling their lives that it can be hard to make time for something like cards. I am horrible at sending out birthday cards – or even remembering birthdays!
It looked like the Christmas play was wonderful. And I enjoyed your play on words – “on another note”! Miss you too!
Got your card yesterday. I love getting Christmas cards, but like Mary, I’m terrible about getting them out . Usually mine arrive after Christmas, but usually BEFORE New Years! 🙂 I admit that I usually send them to people that I dont see all year or keep up with on facebook. I think cards are becoming a thing of the past.
Between Christmas and New Year’s is TOTALLY on time! That’s not even late. I never sent cards to people I saw all the time – but now I don’t see anyone all the time (except for Tom – which is wonderful!). Maybe that is why I have so many more Christmas cards to send!