CHRISTMAS LISTS

I have spent most of tonight writing Christmas cards. The cost of postage has risen this year and it will cost a lot of money to send cards.  I came across the following verse many years ago and every tme I write my cards it springs to mind. Some people think it is a waste of time sendng cards to people we see regularly but I disagree because as the following words say we send a card to someone because we have known them some time in our life and when writing our cards we do actually think of those people.

There is a list of friends I know, all written in a book

And every year at Christmas time, I go and take a look.

And that is when I realise that these names are a part,

Not of the book they are written in, but of my very heart.

For each name stands for someone who hast touched my life sometime,

And in that meeting they've become etched forever in my mind.

I really feel that I'm composed of each and every name,

And while you may not be aware of feeling quite the same,

My life is so much better than it was before you came.

For once you have known someone the years cannot erase

The memory of a pleasant word, or a of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine,

Of names upon a list, to be forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,

it is because you're on the list that I'm indebted to.

And whether I've known you for many years or even just a few,

In some ways you have had a part in shaping things I do.

So every year when Christmas comes, I just realise anew

The biggest gift that God can give is knowing friends like you.

(Author unknown.)