Our First Christmas Card of the Season

Our First Christmas Card of the Season
by Marilyn Mackenzie

When I was a kid, everyone sent Christmas cards.  Kids got their own boxes of cards to send.  My mom always ordered special cards that depicted each family member, often as cartoon characters, sometimes as silhouettes.  If we had a dog, our dog was included on the card.  One year she included our pet fish on the card.  Another year, our pet turtle was included.

Sometime in early November, everyone sat down with their Christmas card list, their box of cards and stamps.  On the Christmas card list, there were columns.  We kept track of the people to whom we sent cards and the ones who sent cards to us.  If someone didn't send you a card back for two or three years in a row, then they were removed from the Christmas card list.  Thinking back about that now, that seems pretty strange.  Perhaps the ones who didn't send you a card needed cheering up.  Perhaps they had been ill.  Perhaps they no longer had money for buying cards and stamps.  And still, we took them off our lists.

I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago.  And so did most people I know. 

At one church, we would all get Christmas cards ready for our shut-ins and someone would hand deliver a hundred or more cards to each one.  I did participate in that effort.

At another church, our youth group would deliver all of your Christmas cards (if they were addressed for someone in the county) for 50 cents each.  Gas was certainly cheaper then, but I don't think the youth group made much money on that fund raiser.  Since most of my relatives were out of state, I usually donated money to the youth group during this project.

Today, most of the cards that hubby and I receive are from businesses - our bank, our chiropractor, an automobile repair place we've been a few times.  Sometimes we get one or two from relatives. 

Years ago, we could decorate the entire house with Christmas cards we received.  People had all kinds of creative ways to display them.  Not only did it add to the festive look of each home, but it let people around you know that you had lots of friends because of the number of cards you received.

A few days ago, we got our first Christmas card for this year.  It was from the local Salvation Army.  We've never received a Christmas card from them before, but I had heard that last year they got far less in donations than they needed or expected. 

Inside, the message says, "Could you open your heart and share your blessings this Christmas?  With your donation, we can give the less fortunate in our community holiday meals, warm clothes, toys and Christmas joy.  A gift in any amount is very much appreciated!"  Thank you and God bless."

I remembered that card and message as I passed a Salvation Army bell ringer on the sidewalk yesterday.  (I'm always pleased that some businesses still let them stand in front of the doors...since some do not anymore.)  I reached in my pocket and dropped in what change I had left from my purchase.  As I did, I thought about the man standing there ringing the bell.  He was probably a paid employee.  The Salvation Army has had to resort to hiring people to ring the bell, since they cannot get enough people to volunteer.