What
To Do With Those Christmas Cards—
Maybe the Best Idea Yet...
What To Do
(With Those Christmas Cards.)
They’re beautiful, meaningful,
delightful and cute.
Precious, entertaining, an emotion
pursuit.
They sparkle with glitter and colors
galore.
New Year’s Day nudges in—do you trash
them or store?
Those Christmas cards, on display for
the season,
Have now become clutter—can you think
of a reason
To keep them or hoard them or stash
them away?
“Oh—how shall I handle this dilemma?”
I say.
All the pictures of children and
couples and pets
Seems a shame to just dump them and
feel no regrets.
And the Babe in the manger—how holy is
He!
See those sweet little lambs and the
wise men—all three.
The shepherds with angels announcing
His birth,
So many greetings are surely of worth.
Now I have an idea and I’ll share it
with you.
It will bless every sender as well as
you too.
Each day before dawn when you meet
with the Lord,
Pull a card, ask God’s blessings that
person toward.
Be amazed then and see how the Lord
helps you pray,
For He knows what that person will go
through that day.
By
Connie Wohlford -- January 3, 2017
Okay, so I don’t claim to be a great poet and actually
had no plan to write a poem for this post, but well, it just happened. More
importantly though, did you get the message from the little rhyme?
To preserve, enjoy and make use of your Christmas cards
in a meaningful way, consider the above suggestion.
Put your 2016 Christmas cards in a box, basket, or napkin
holder. Each day, pull out the one in front (or on top) and pray for the person
or family who sent that card. Most of us probably didn’t get 365 cards so when
you’ve gone through all the cards, just start again at the beginning. You might
want to add in other cards you receive during the year, as I do. These might be
birthday cards and even thank you notes.
Many times I have found that the very person I pray for
on a given day has a specific need at that specific time. Sometimes before the
day is over I learn of that need if it’s not something I’m already aware of.
Every time this happens, I’m amazed again of God’s omniscience and love for
each of us. Sometimes I’ve even called the person to tell them theirs was the
card I pulled out that morning. They too are then reminded of the awesomeness
of our God.
Several years ago a friend gave me this idea and even
made a holder for my cards. I love praying for my loved ones, adding this method
to my regular prayer routine, and it only takes a few extra seconds each day.
It’s a prayer connection I would otherwise not likely have with these
individuals.
We don’t send out a huge number of cards but if any of
the recipients are doing this same thing with their Christmas cards I’m grateful
for their prayers.
What do you do with your Christmas cards at the end of
the holiday season? I and others who read this will enjoy learning your ideas.
God
bless you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
©Connie
Wohlford 2017
This
week, our country will witness another transition of power at the highest
level. The election was brutal on the entire nation but the Christian
church took hits from within and without. Many are feeling, at the
very least, beat up, battered, or bewildered. Others are resentful and angry.
Still others harbor self-righteousness and smug pride. All of us are weary and
wondering what the future holds. Now is an opportunity for the church
to facilitate healing, restoration of truth, and reconciliation within the body
of Christ.
Lori Roeleveld describes
herself as, “Just Another
Hobbit, Disturbed by Jesus, Living the Adventure. Like you, I don’t want to remain stuck in the small story of my small
mind, my stunted soul, my lesser life. I want to follow Jesus into His great
story; my mind transformed, my soul expanded, my life lived to the full. 
