photo NavIG_zps7563fd85.png photo NavPin_zpsd777ef70.png photo NavYT_zpsbdfa2471.png photo NavBL_zps47aef9ce.png


Friday, January 4, 2013

What to do with your Christmas cards

I was so surprised to see how many Christmas cards we got this year! The wall where I was sticking them quickly spilled over to our cabinets and I loved walking by them multiple times a day and seeing the smiling faces of our family and friends. The weekend after Thanksgiving when we put up our Christmas decor, I found the stack of the cards we received last year and ended up throwing them out. I thought for a second about keeping them but I hate clutter and it would end up getting in the way. A few days later we went to dinner with friends who gave us their beautiful Christmas card and shared that they use the cards they receive as reminders to pray for those families all year. Bingo! That is what we did with our cards this year.

Wednesday night Jon and I went to dinner at our favorite hole in the wall Mexican place, ordered lots of greasy, cheesy foods, and brought our loved ones cards with us. Time was on our side and we spent the evening going through each card that was sent to us and praying for the families. 



Some where pretty specific things like career paths, fertility, family understanding and forgiveness. But others were simple... happy marriages, healthy families, successful fiscal years. 99% of the families we prayed for spiritual growth and that Jon and I could speak truth and wisdom towards them. We also wrote down specific things we are praying for in 2013. I haven't decided how to store the cards just yet but we plan on getting them out every so often to revisit prayers, pray harder, pray for different things, check in, etc. 

I had a few people comment on Instagram that they wish they would have sent us a card so we would pray for them but friends, I don't need a picture of you to pray for you. Leave me a comment or email me with any prayer requests you have (if you leave a comment, be sure to leave your email address).

Throughout the bible and heavily in the gospels and New Testament, we are commanded to give our sorrows, triumphs and worries to prayer. One of the hardest (and most humbling) books of the bible for me to read was Job, day after day he was stripped clean of all his loves and belongings, yet he still found joy in the name of the Lord, and prayed.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. -Job 42:10

29 comments:

Carolyn said...

Such a neat idea!! :)

Carolyn said...

Such a neat idea!! :)

Anonymous said...

This is so fantastic!! Very wonderful!

Amy said...

I have a cute basket I keep on the middle of my everyday dining table we eat dinner. I have all my Christmas cards in it all year and every night before dinner we draw a card and pray for the family.

KRISTIN said...

You are just the sweetest! I feel so much comfort in the fact that I know you two prayed for us. I love this idea so much! :)

Kelly said...

My mom has always done this. So it was only fitting that i do the same when i got married.

Kelly said...

I get card stock and make a cover and a back out of it, punch holes, tie them together and make a Christmas card book out of them. it takes up very little space.

Lauren H Edmondson said...

this is such a wonderful idea! I have our stack we received sitting on the china cabinet at home and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them.

Unknown said...

I know this isn't quite as nice as what you're doing with the cards but I simply can't just toss them, so I take the beautiful fronts and cut around them and use them for name tags next Christmas! I do all my cards this way- they make beautiful tags and someone else gets to enjoy them too!

Diana Amy said...

Such a beautiful idea! Can you please pray that I find the kind of guy who will sit down and pray for friends and family with me?! Haha...no, but seriously, your relationship's focus on Jesus is so inspiring!

Amber @ My Life in High Heels said...

I am so encouraged and inspired by this idea and your openness to pray for so many people God has put you in contact with. So so cool

Because Shanna Said So said...

When I saw this on IG, my heart melted. Ruthie, I have said it before, but I have to say it again....you make me want to be a better person!! You and Jon are true gems.

Anonymous said...

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. What a great way to support your friends and family throughout the year!

Raquel said...

That is such a great idea!! I never thought about doing something like that!

GingerPeachT said...

*hits the love button*

Can't say much about this, but that I love it and your heart. :-)

Unknown said...

That is such a great idea! I hate just throwing away my Christmas cards, but like you I hate clutter and it makes me feel good to throw things away. Thank you for the idea! I too saw your rerun on house hunters. (I love that show) I really love your blog. Thank you for being a light in the darkness.

Katherine

godslittlegrace.blogspot.com

Kimberly Erskine said...

Aww Ruthie, this is wonderful! I could not think of a better way to end the holiday season than thinking about the ones who are so close to you. I absolutely love this idea and the Erskine's could sure use some prayers in the new year with me becoming a missileer and our big move to Montana. You're so inspiring and as always, one of my favorite bloggers.

Kim :)
erskine.kimberly@gmail.com

Renee Arianna said...

Thanks for sharing this great idea with us! I always wonder what people do with the Christmas cards from previous years.

Brooke Hamilton said...

That's such a great idea. I'm thinking we will begin sending out xmas cards next year as a married couple! I cant wait!

Mrs. Kee said...

I love this idea! What a beautiful, heartfelt thing to do. I may just have to copy you. Thanks for sharing!

Dana said...

I'm glad to hear you actually got a lot of Christmas cards! So many of our friends and family don't seem to be sending them anymore, and it's one of my favorite parts of Christmas...keeping up with loved ones far away. Love your idea to use the cards all year long...

Unknown said...

What a blessing to do this, I love it!! my husband and I are going to lift our cards in prayer to The Lord.

Unknown said...

What a blessing to do this, I love it!! my husband and I are going to lift our cards in prayer to The Lord.

Teressa Mackey said...

What an amazing idea! LOVE Love love this .

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

Studio 7 Interior Design, Kristen Rockwood said...

Seriously!? You are such an amazing person and human being. I live in Utah and am a mormon. It truly is so refreshing to me to know of people of Christian religions who are so devout and share their testimonies of the Savior and His word so willingly and openly. I don't see that here aside from my faith. Thank you for sharing His word, for your example and discipleship and your strength. I know He is so proud of you. Happy New Year!

-Kristen
ps... I am going to be on the house hunt soon and was wondering if you could email me the "behind the scene" things you couldn't list on your site. Super interested!!! Thanks! kristleberry@hotmail.com

Amanda said...

I love that you did this! And I love you! :)

Dani said...

Amazing idea!! I could sure use some prayers! I am searching for a job and need one soon. Also I am getting married in May and would like prayers for a wonderful marriage. Thanks so much!! Oh and my email address is christinadanielle182@gmail.com

Heather @ Finding Beauty in the Ordinary said...

Thank you so much for praying for our little family! It means more than you know! We love you guys so much! You are seriously such dear friends! xo

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...