The Moral of the Story

Cindy Trane Christeson

“We have been in God’s thought from all eternity, and in his creative

love, his attention never leaves us.”

-- Michael Quoist

I still see an occasional colorless Christmas tree lying lifeless on the

curb, and I still find an occasional cheery Christmas trinket hiding in a

room I thought was decoration-free.

I also still receive an occasional Christmas card. Though I’m sure that

the time for Christmas trees and decorations is nearly past, I wouldn’t

mind if Christmas cards just kept coming. They are one of my favorite

parts of the holiday and are the very last things I put away.

I must confess that some days, I was too busy to stop and read the

letters, but I have finally finished them all.That’s why I enjoy

receiving cards around Valentine’s Day or Easter because I have more time

to focus on them.I love keeping up to date and watching pictures of

families as they grow over the years. I enjoy learning what people are

thankful for and what they choose as highlights of the past year. I

rejoice with the good news I read, and I pray for those who share

struggles and sorrows.I have always loved Christmas cards. I remember

walking to my grandparents’ house and sitting at the table normally

reserved for backgammon and helping them seal and stamp hundreds of

cards. At the time it seemed like thousands.

My grandmother’s cards were prints of recent paintings of hers, and I was

proud to feel like I had anything to do with them.

Whenever I go to friends’ homes over the holidays, I love looking at

their cards, and I couldn’t help but notice that one of the first things

our daughters did when they came home from college was to look at all of

ours.

When the girls were growing up, we had a fun tradition that kept the

cards in circulation several extra weeks. After dinner, each of us could

chose a card or two and then we would pray for the people together.

Several of my friends have a tradition of keeping the pictures up on

their refrigerators year-round.

“They are the first thing people come in and look at in our house,”

explained my friend, Susan. “And they are a great reminder to pray for

our friends and family.”

Many of the cards we receive say something like, “When we think back over

the year, we remember special friends like you.”

Over the Christmas holidays, I read a verse in Isaiah that said, “I will

not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted a picture of you on

the palm of each of my hands.” It was as if God was saying, “When I look

at all eternity, I think of you.” It felt like it was a Christmas card

from God.I’ve heard different speakers refer to God’s love for us by

using the cute illustration that God has each of our pictures on his

refrigerator door.

I’m not so sure about the refrigerator part, but the part about God never

forgetting me is one message that I am sure about. It is also a message

to all of us that is always up to date.

And you can quote me on that.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently

to parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at cindy@onthegrow.com

or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505, Newport Beach 92658.