Helen Syski shares three ways to use your pile of Christmas cards to augment your family’s spiritual life and relationships.
Christmas season comes to an end, whether I take down my tree after Epiphany or after the Presentation. But the hardest thing for me to put away is my basket of Christmas cards. So many people I love in that basket… and their love, time and money that went into their card arriving on my doorstep! What’s a lady to do?
Pick a Card for Your Daily Intention
Pick a card out of the pile, place it somewhere your family will see it, and pray for that friend or family member for the whole day. I received this brilliant idea from a friend—when her family pulled out our card, she sent me a message; not only was I graced with her prayers, but also a message from a dear friend. We’ll put our card of the day on our mantle in front of our image of the Sacred Heart.
Picture Album
Use the Christmas cards to create a picture album or a collage of family photos. Depending on the size of your extended family, this can be a great opportunity to create a “field guide” of sorts for your kids. Practice those uncles’ and cousins’ names before the annual trip out of state for a family reunion!
Story Time
Our kids love hearing stories about our childhood and life’s journey. They love to hear stories about their extended family members. Who doesn’t want to know about the uncle that jumped off a horse and down a canyon, or the great-grandfather who started a tile factory after his car got stuck in clay?
Over the next weeks, draw out a card at random at bedtime and let the card inspire a story! Remember that the gospel of Matthew starts with Jesus’ geneology. Consider the importance of knowing the Old Testament in order to appreciate the New Testament. Story is so important for your children to know where they came from, where they are going, and the wisdom of those around them!
Plug your children into your life and share with them how God brought you closer to Himself through these people and their memories.
Christmas season may be over, but may the joy of the baby Jesus reign in our hearts all the year through!
Adequate Anthropologist 