Undecking the halls, throwing away boughs of holly, and cleaning ashes from the open-fire-roasted chestnuts are about as much fun as having a root canal. Last month’s joy of getting the decorations out can be muffled quickly this week by thinking about getting it all back in the boxes and in the attic.
For weeks, the Christmas cards came flooding into our mailbox. With each trip from the mailbox, we got so much joy hearing from friends around the country and seeing family photos from throughout the previous year.
Oh, the time and energy that went in to making some of those Christmas cards. The thought of trashing them is just too much to bear!
Another December 25 has come and gone. Decorations have all been stowed away, but this year’s Christmas cards will remain with us throughout the New Year. As each day of 2011 passes, we will look at last year’s cards again and again, and our family will pray for those who wished us Christmas greetings in 2010.
We keep our Christmas cards in a homemade “Prayer Box.” Our Christmas Card Prayer Box is an essential part of our evening dinner table ritual. Our boys wouldn’t even think about eating at night until we pulled out the Prayer Box.
We certainly won’t win any home decorating or craft awards. The Prayer Box is simply a diaper wipes box with piece of construction paper taped to it which says—"Pray Without Ceasing.” What lacks in creativity is compensated by the lessons on intercession which we are all learning every night.
At dinner, a different boy gets to reach into the prayer box and pull out a Christmas card. Before we dig in, we pray for our food and for the folks on the card. When two-year-old Isaac pulls out the Christmas card that Mr. Bill and Mrs. Brenda sent last year, our mealtime prayer becomes even more special as we pray for his Sunday school teachers. Sometime, the friends we pray for may be sick or having a difficult time. Pulling out cards from our cousins always brings them a little closer to home. Occasionally after we pray for a particular family, one of our boys will say, “We should call and check on them.” Watching your children think about others is such a joy.
Selfishness and prayerlessness go hand in hand and there’s too much in today’s society that encourages children to focus on themselves. The Prayer Box does just the opposite—it gets our minds off ourselves and helps us pray specifically for other people.
Don’t throw those Christmas cards away! Recycle them. In fact, redeem them and use them for a godly purpose in your family’s life.
If you sent us a Christmas card this year, know how thankful we are for you. Know also that our little tribe of six will be praying for you throughout the year!
Pastor Todd
