Christmas Letters

By Laura Martin

I think we all have distant relatives or old friends that we only communicate with at Christmas time. There is nothing wrong with this – life changes, and we will not keep in close, regular contact with everyone from our past. However, I have a major pet peeve! What is it? When people I only hear from at Christmas time send me a card with nothing but their name signed on it. In my opinion, why bother? Okay, so at least I know you are alive! But a few quick sentences with the latest news or family updates would be nice. Births? New jobs? Graduations? Moves? A little once-a-year update is especially meaningful and important if Christmas is the only time of year that you communicate with each other.

As you prepare your Christmas cards this year, take the time to write a short letter with each card – especially for those individuals that you only communicate with at Christmas time. As computer communication continues to increase, you can help remind people of the special personal touch that is found only in a handwritten postal note! Let them discover the forgotten joy of holding a letter in their hands that was written just for them.

Take the time to ad some other personal touches to your letter. Ad some festive stickers or a rubber-stamped Christmas image. Write with a green or red pen. Use a holiday postage stamp. Liven up your correspondence with those special touches that only come with postal mail!

In our increasingly busy and hectic world, taking the time to write a letter can help remind people of what really matters in life. Christmas is a time to focus on love, caring, friendship, and reaching out to those in need around us. It’s a time to remember that the things that matter most in life are not things!

Encourage the person you are writing to do the same by asking them a few questions. “What grades are your kids in now? How is your job going?” Write them a nice note, let them know you are interested in them, and maybe, just maybe, they will write you a letter back. But don’t expect it! Remember that Christmas is about giving, not receiving. Regardless of whether they write you back, you were able to put some joy in their mailbox with your missive. Many people feel down at Christmas, and your Christmas card and personal letter may be just what they needed to brighten their day!

Check out the Christmas Postmarks for making your letter special!