Yesterday, I was in line for the checkout in a craft store. The woman in front of me had her hands full with supplies of small jewels, tiny braided tassels, and different colors of felt. She showed the clerk what she was making - beautiful holiday cards with detailed pictures made from the types of materials she was buying. There were cards with Christmas trees on them (each tree was decorated with intricate detail), holiday scenes around a fireplace, presents with different wrappings around them - all were gorgeous and very well made. It must have taken an hour to make each card, and she had over 20 of them. I, of course, assumed she was going to sell them (why else do it?), when she said to the other woman, "Do you think my friends will like them? I think they will."
I stood there for a moment, trying to figure it out. Here was a woman willing to spend an hour to make a card for each of her friends, just for the love of giving to them. Would I be willing to make such an effort for a gesture this size? I figured since I was wondering about it, the answer would probably be "no". Then I wondered about her friends - would they know the effort she took to make each card? Would they appreciate it, or would they just glance at it and put it in the trash? What would I do if I received one? I would probably keep it all year long, hanging on my bulletin board, marveling at the thoughtfulness of someone else.
This incident reminded me of what I think the holidays are all about. Taking the time to show someone how much you mean to them when the rest of the world and year is so crazy the time just isn't taken. So when you receive my store bought card this year, please remember that I thought about making you a beautifully constructed card, and after all, isn't it the thought that counts?
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