If you believe in the wonder of Christmas and know without a doubt that Santa Claus lives just as sure as your name's Virginia, then I have a miracle for you! I've been hooked on Christmas cards for as long as I can remember. I even have a large, ribbon tied bundle of old ones stacked in the corner of my closet, easily in reach whenever I get sentimental enough to riffle through them and revisit Christmases past.
Christmas cards have kept me in the spirit of Christmas, sometimes in years when joy seemed far away and the real meaning of this holiday was just a cobweb in the corner of a disenchanted heart and mind. Simple elegant paintings of a snowy mountain glade with an old white church in the background are special to me. A worn path in the snow to the church with a wisp of smoke coming from the chimney brings back memories of gentler and more innocent Christmas times.
Personal notes in the cards of yesteryear make me think that somewhere along the way I may have done something good. Here's one from someone I can't recall, "May the joy of this holy season be with you and thanks for all your help." The card was signed Ann and John. I have no idea who they are, but I feel a little more cheerful having read those lines.
There are the old ones from Aunt's and Uncles, newer ones from cousins and friends. I find one from mom after arthritis had kicked in and made it difficult to write. She just signed her name under the printed message on the card. Even that was strenuous at the time because she sent out a lot greeting cards. Stamps were much cheaper then.
I call all the greeting cards I receive during the holiday season, Christmas cards, whether they have an explicit Christian theme or not. I refuse to make a political correct distinction at this stage in my life.
Today was one of those wonderful days that happen every once in a long while during Christmas. I received a beautiful Christmas card in the U.S. Mail from an internet company. That indeed is a miracle!
There was a time when you could open the mailbox during the holidays and find cards from the plumber, the day care center and the local pharmacy, just to name a few of the businesses who appreciated having worked with you the past year. That doesn't happen much any more, especially since email has entered our lives.
If memory serves, when I joined SearchWarp well over a year ago, they said something about being different than other article submission services. They also mentioned that they were more interested in quality and integrity of content than the quantity. I didn't really believe them, but I though it was interesting goal and one I believed I could reach.
This past year I've realized that SearchWarp has become more of a family get-together than just another article site. I check it almost every day for new articles by Susan Thom, Marty Rickard and April Lorier, just to name a few. I look forward to comments from articles I write, just as I would critiques from family at home. I know that no one is forced to take the time to write a few lines about an article, but they do it because they're unselfish in their time and friendship from afar.
Today I received a Christmas card from SearchWarp, signed by Bruce, Jean, Lorrie and Laura. I know them only through their words and photos, but it seems as if I've met an extended family.
What makes this more of a Christmas miracle than any I've seen so far this year is that an internet company has taken the time and some money to send me holiday wishes by the United States Post Office.
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:
http://www.homeandgardenbob.com
http://www.redfishbob.com
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