Our Favorite 3 Christmas Cards
Our family loves Christmas Cards. We eagerly rip open every envelope to take in the content enclosed. Cards from stateside hold fresh news along with the photo evidence of growing children. Cards from Germans are accompanied by tins full of savory contents. This year, three Christmas Cards delighted us the most. Each card articulating evidence of Kingdom growth.
Upping her giving game, along with repurposing tins received from previous years, Brittany made two batches of Sugar Sprinkle Ginger Cookies, two batches of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, and both chocolate and vanilla truffle balls. She wrote personal cards for each tin, decorated them with cuttings of evergreens, and tied them all with ribbon. The family spent three days delivering them to neighbors, coworkers, and friends across Potsdam.
We waited with eager anticipation for what we might receive. Beautiful cards arriving from the states did not disappoint. An ornate bag full of oranges and other colorful fruit appeared from our downstairs neighbors. Five Chocolate Santas bearing our names placed on our doorstep during the night. A convoy of homemade goodies and fruit continued to arrive escorting typical cards filled with well wishes, cheer, and photos.
The lack of “typical” is what made these three cards different.
Not anticipating anything from her language tutor, Barbara, Brittany was stunned when a small, delightful poinsettia sat at her designated seat complimented with a magnificent advent calendar. The weeks prior Barbara had accepted the challenge to let Brittany teach the lessons about Strong Women in the Bible.
Now sitting in front of her was a detailed advent calendar depicting the original town of Bethlehem and behind 24 Advent doors contained a bible verse. Barbara’s card read, “Advent feelings to Brittany and a small present of old German advent tradition from the country of Sarah, Ruth, Esther, and all the other strong ladies of the Bible!”
She had been paying attention. God had answered Brittany’s prayers. Her atheist friend was thinking about Christmas differently this year.
The next special card arrived tied to an attractive glass jar. Star shaped biscuits topped with cheese and sesame seeds filled the container. It was from the across-the-way neighbors. A husband who grew up in a house whose parents had polar views on religion. A wife who had never prayed until she ate dinner at our flat. The card read, “May God bless your life with love and joy this holiday season. Merry Christmas!”
They had been paying attention. God had answered our prayers. They were accepting of us, our faith, and not repulsed by our beliefs.
The final card was delivered by the hands of Will’s best friend. Shivering cold he handed over a red box incasing an angel. The front of the card was a photo of the scene of Jesus’ birth. The inside read in various red and black pen, “Dear Brittany, Nate, Will, Emerson, and Sadie, a joyful and blessed Christmas celebration. We still do not know each other personally (hopefully there will be an opportunity soon) nevertheless, how you have welcomed our son into your family has us very touched. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts and hope that this angel will have a place in your hospitable, loving house and bless your family.”
They had been paying attention. God had answered our prayers. Their son felt the Holy Spirit in our home, and it blessed them.
These Christmas cards are special because their words represent evidence of labor for God's Kingdom. Fruit unlike the physical kind that arrived at our door. I imagine pulling them out of the Christmas boxes year after year marveling over the indication of Kingdom growth.