What comes to mind when you think “Christmas season?  Some people think “presents,” some think “shopping,” some think, “where am I going to get the money?”, some think “caroling,” some think, “time with family (or sadly, time without)”, some even think about the reason, “the birth of Christ” and some think they must call it Holiday Season to be politically correct, and so on and on.

Some people think “Christmas Cards.”  So, I digress.  Here’s a little Christmas card tidbit.

According to Wikipedia, the first Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on the 1st of May 1843.  The central picture showed three generations of a family raising a toast to the card’s recipient: on either side were scenes of charity, distributing food and clothing to the poor. At Christmas 1873, the lithograph firm Prang and Mayer began creating greeting cards for the popular market in England. The firm began selling the Christmas card in America in 1874, thus becoming the first printer to offer cards in America. Its owner, Louis Prang, is sometimes called the “father of the American Christmas card.”

One of the things I also think about is the annual  Christmas letter that we send to family and friends instead of a Christmas card.  My goal is to have that written, including prose and pictures, by the first of December.  It is always a good feeling to have the letters all composed, addressed and mailed on time.

Suppose, when the mail arrives, there is a card from someone to whom you did not mail a Christmas card.  Now, what do you do in the following situations?

• The card is from a person or business with whom you have a business relationship.  They always send a card to let you know they

• remember you and want to share the joy of the season with you.  It is nice to know you are valued but is a return card necessary?

• The card is from a new friend you made during the year, one with whom you developed a special relationship.  That person(s) thought enough of your relationship to want to make you a part of their joy of Christmas.

• The card is from someone who is thinking of you, but you can’t remember who they are. That happens more and more as you age.  Is it possible there is a good elf that just sends cards to all old people to share the love of the season?

• The card is from someone you just plain overlooked or forgot.  Maybe you skipped a line when copying addresses from your Christmas list but you care deeply about that relationship.

• The card is from someone who moved or had a change in family status, and they are just letting you know.

We always send a letter if we have any doubt what to do.  No way are we going to offend Uncle Harry or Cousin Jane on my wife’s mother’s side.  Now, with email technology, we will send a Christmas email, particularly to those on our list overseas.

Above all, Let’s Keep Our Focus on the Main Thing; The Birth of Christ!

Through the years since 2004, when I made my first VBS mission trip to Romania, I have made many friends.  I cherish the fond memories of the children and the volunteers as they experienced a closer relationship with Christ.  It is always a special joy to receive a Christmas message from them, a message that keeps me informed of the role Christ has played in their lives.  Sometimes they will tell me of the impact the Vacation Bible School(VBS) has had on their lives, and how glad they are that our VBS team came to their church to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Let us now celebrate the birth of Christ and also the birth of new Christians through VBS. Glory to God, Rejoice, Another Christian was born today. Halleluiah!

Next week:  11  Criteria for Finding Fertile Ground.