The Spirit of Christmas: Send Cards with Love

I love my mailbox. In fact, my husband calls the mail person (who, in our case, happens to be male) my "favorite man."

"Your favorite man has been here," he'll tell me if he picks up the mail before I get home.

Of course that's not true. He, my husband, is my favorite male. However, he teases me because he knows how much I enjoy going to the mailbox for no other reason than to see what's in there for that specific day. Quite often, it's nothing more than an unsolicited advertisement from a company I'll never use but, still, there's something about the potential happy surprise that appeals to me. Maybe silly but, hey, it's just one of those quirky things. Mail has always fascinated me.

Stands to reason then, doesn't it?, that I love Christmas cards. I love to send them, and I have lots of fun going to my mailbox from about late November on through the end of the year (some folks are known to run late) to see who's sent one to me and my family. Yes, I admit, the little things in life make me happy. I'm easy to please . . . just send me a Christmas card and I'll remember you fondly for the rest of the year. Send me a card with a soft and gushy sentiment inside and I'll not only remember you, I'll smile every time I think of you. Added bonus.

For some, though, cards are oftentimes hastily selected and addressed and sent out even faster. There are people who consider it nothing more than an obligation, not something to do because it's enjoyable but because it's expected of them. No other reason.

I think that's sad. I really do. If you're taking your time to pull your address list, buy cards, sign your name, and address the envelope, I hope you're doing it because you really like the people you're sending to, not simply fulfilling a duty to the Christmas Card Elves who might drop coal in your stocking if you don't do the right thing this year.

Don't send me a card if that's the only reason you're doing it. Why? Because I'll be able to tell. That special intangible sense of connection won't be there when I open your card. Even if I send you one, please don't turn around and put one in my mailbox so you don't feel guilty that I spent money on the postage to you. That was an act I did out of the pure sense of sharing. I enjoyed it. I did it because I wanted to, not because I expected anything out of the person on the receiving end.

And that has to be the true meaning of sending cards for the holiday. I send one to you because I want you to know I'm thinking of you at a very special time of year, not because I'm trying to see if you're thinking of me. It's nice if you are, but not a requirement.

All for the spirit of the giving, not the receiving. Though if you do send me a card, and you do it because you are thinking of me . . . you'll be a special part of my mailbox-opening on the day it gets to me.