“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV)
Christmas letters are subject to some bad press—teased for their predictable content: a résumé of each child’s achievements, a collage of photos of people only vaguely remembered, or glitter-sprinkled tales of “here’s what happened this year.”
I’ve sent and received each of those over the years. Still, I love Christmas letters. They always speak to me about our human condition.
Whether the letters are full of delightful vacations and career accomplishments, or the somber news of illness and death, they are always scented with a hint of bewilderment.
Has another year really gone by already? When did our children grow from cuddly babies into college students? How do we pick up the pieces now that a dear one passed away? Is our turn coming soon? Why does life change so much?
As the letter progresses, that bewilderment often leads to a shift of focus and a beautiful testimony of faith. Yes, the year was full of births and deaths, vacations and layoffs, delights and horrors. Yes, time is grinding past at a relentless pace. But above it all, God is unfolding His plan. For the universe. For our lives.
I see glimmers of that unfolding each time I press open the creases of another Christmas letter. Friends give testimony to it in large fonts.
Life doesn’t stand still while we struggle to make sense of it all, so breathing deep of the wonder, confusion, and challenges that we all face is a comfort—as is the reminder that Christ brings meaning to all the ups and downs that fill each year.
We are living letters to each other, sharing the beautiful story God is writing with our lives.
Faith step: Write a letter today, and share a way Christ has written on your life through His Spirit.
