Christmas Card Dilemma

I ran out of Christmas cards.
I ordered far too few.
I thought I could just order more.
Seemed right for me to do.

I put items in my shopping cart.
Much less than the time before.
Until I saw the total cost.
The amount was so much more.

It’s cheaper when you buy in bulk.
Why did I order less?
I only needed a few more cards.
About twenty or so, I guess.

My husband said to order them.
I said, absolutely not.
I’m not paying that amount.
It’s really quite a lot.

I’ll just order prints, I thought.
I can get them the next day.
I got the text that they were done.
It was the least expensive way.

I needed to find some Christmas cards.
I could tuck the print inside.
I could write a heartfelt note to them.
I searched far and wide.

All sold out, I was told.
All picked over, too.
I thought this would be an easy job.
I didn’t know what to do.

I went to a local card store.
I asked where they might be.
I was shown the aisle with Christmas cards.
Bare shelves where cards should be.

I got the one remaining pack.
Only eight cards inside.
It would have to do, I told myself.
But I knew my thoughts had lied.

Merry Christmas was written on the front.
With minimal words inside.
I could surely write my heartfelt note.
I knew that I could try.

I opened the pack when I got home.
Deciding what I should say.
Then I saw that underneath,
It said, Happy Holidays.

All sold out; Picked over, too.
My heart was heavy and sad.
I began to ponder what is true.
I remembered the truth I had.

Christmas is not a holiday.
Christmas is so much more.
It is when God broke into the world.
And swaddling clothes He wore.

Jesus is never picked over.
Jesus is never sold out.
Jesus is not a seasonal thing.
That is not what He is about.

Jesus came to save the people.
Save them from their sins.
They didn’t know they needed Him.
They didn’t know where to begin.

He laid aside all that was rightly His.
And made Himself nothing for us.
Every knee to Him would one day bow.
Every tongue would soon confess.

Jesus is Lord.

Come to the Babe in the manger.
Come to the man on the cross.
Come to Jesus our Savior.
The One who died for us.

Come see the trough where they laid Him.
Come see the tomb He was in.
See that the tomb is now empty.
That is the place to begin.

Jesus is Lord, I proclaim it.
Jesus is Lord, I believe.
Jesus my Lord and Savior.
He promises never to leave.

See the cross and the manger.
See the baby and man.
See the Lamb on the altar.
He is the great, I am.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11)

2 responses to “Christmas Card Dilemma”

1. Such a good reminder! Jesus is what Christmas is all about!. I too waited to get some cards in addition to the picture cards and they were all sold out. Luckily, my daughter has some extras!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     I was finally able to find some lovely cards.
     The dilemma allowed me to ponder all that I wrote in this Whisper.
     That is a good thing.
     Gina

     Reply