Christmas Card Prayers

It’s the beginning of December when they start making their appearance. First as a slow trickle, but then two by two they march into my mailbox – Christmas cards.

In recent years, the majority are picture greetings. With giddy excitement, I tear open each one, eager to see the creative cards and read well wishes. Every year I display them across my kitchen cabinets, smiling faces greeting me as I cook and help with homework.

For years, I struggled with what to do with them at the end of the season. It seemed a crime to toss the beautiful glossies of the families I loved in the trash. That’s when we started the tradition of praying over the cards.

Starting in January, I place all of the Christmas cards in a basket and place it in my kitchen. At the beginning of each week, my children take turns selecting a card from the basket. We place the card in the middle of the kitchen table and begin praying every day for the family who sent it.

If I have the email address of the sender, I usually shoot them a little note to let them know we are praying for them that week and ask for any specific prayer requests. It’s been a great way to draw closer to my neighbors and has opened the door for many conversations about God.

Praying each week brings the spirit of Christmas into the rest of the year, and it’s a great way to get my children involved in serving others. And isn’t that what Christmas is truly all about?

What creative things have you done with your Christmas cards?