This wasn’t something I read in a book or saw anyone else doing. It was something my husband and I started as a newly married couple. When we were dating, my husband often gave me cards filled with sweet words of love and encouragement. After we were married, it was natural for us to write Christmas cards to one another, sharing our appreciation and love. We placed these cards on the branches of the Christmas tree and opened them on Christmas morning, savoring the heartfelt sentiments. These cards were valuable to us and we treasured them.
After we had children, they also became the recipients of meaningful sentiments in Christmas cards. Without realizing it, we were beginning a family tradition that has continued for thirty-five years. We continue to write cards to our adult daughters and now include their spouses and our grandchildren. It’s part of our tradition to place the cards on the tree to be opened, read, and enjoyed together during our Christmas celebration.
As my daughters were growing up, the messages I wrote in their cards were always purposeful. I called out character qualities that stood out, told them how proud of them I was, pointed them to Jesus, and reminded them that I prayed for them regularly. Now that I’m older and I have grandchildren, I find it increasingly important to craft messages that are life-giving. My words remind my daughters of who they are in Christ and what they have access to because they are His children. I also speak to their unique desires, considering how God has wired them, and what they long to hear and experience based on their personalities.
The simple act of writing a card filled with love, appreciation, and affirmation holds transformative power, both for the writer and the recipient. I’ll share the benefits of this tradition and how it speaks to our deeper, human need for love, significance, and purpose.
Writing heartfelt cards has given me a chance to reflect on my family members, what I love about them, and the valuable qualities I see in their lives. The gift of writing these cards encourages me to pause and pray, asking God to show me what each person needs to hear or what’s important to communicate to my family members that particular year. This practice has helped me align my words with His heart, resulting in a message that speaks to the recipient’s soul.
When you take time to reflect on your loved one and write a heartfelt message, it forces you to look beyond the externals and see the person for who they really are internally. Each person is uniquely created by God, with specific strengths, talents, and traits. Writing these cards has deepened my love and appreciation for my family members, and it has reminded me of God’s goodness and faithfulness in their lives.
For me, writing these cards is also a chance to express the life of Christ in me. I ask God to give me words that align with His truth and reflect His love and His promises for the card recipient. Seeing how God loves my family and has wired each of them differently leaves me standing in awe of our Creator God.
We all have an innate need to feel loved, to know we are significant, and to believe our lives matter. When we write words of affirmation to our loved ones, we tap into those core needs, reminding ourselves and the recipient that they are loved, valued, and have a unique purpose.
Each of us longs to hear that we are loved unconditionally, and that’s exactly what we’re sharing when we write messages that reflect God’s love. By expressing our appreciation for what we see in them, and speaking to our loved ones’ identity in Christ, we affirm that they are valuable because of who they are, not because of what they do.
When we speak to a person’s significance, we are affirming their God-given value. Writing words that call out strengths tells them that who they are as God’s child matters. For instance, I might tell my daughters that they are God’s masterpiece, created for good works, or that they are safe and secure in Christ. Validating their identity fills a deep desire to be known, seen, and valued for who they are.
Our purpose is rooted in God’s design for us, to know God and to make Him known to others. There’s meaning to our lives when we realize that He has given each of us a role to play in His kingdom. By writing cards that reflect God’s purpose for our loved ones, we remind them that their lives matter.
The most important message I want my family to remember through these cards is who they are in Christ and what they have access to as His children. As humans, we are forgetful people. This world can make us question our worth, identity, and purpose, but God’s Word reminds us of who we truly are—His beloved children. I use the messages in these Christmas cards as a way to reinforce this truth and to remind my loved ones that their identity is unshakable.
For my family, these cards serve as affirmations of each person’s value, beauty, and uniqueness. The words written down become lasting reminders of our relationship and of God’s love and truth. My oldest daughter shared, “My parents’ annual tradition of crafting beautiful cards is a treasured gift that I hold close to my heart. It means a lot that they take time each holiday to write down encouragement and words of wisdom. I save each card and love looking back on what was written in years past. I’m sure I’ll read them and cry one day when they’re gone.”
When I write a card to my loved ones who have a relationship with Jesus, I often include Scriptural truths and Bible verses that speak to their identity as children of God. For instance, I may remind them that they are forgiven for their past, present, and future sins and that they can rest in that (Colossians 2:13). Or I may remind them that they are perfect and holy in Christ (Hebrews 10:14). I want to make sure they know their true identity is not based on what they do or their performance, but on what Jesus has done for them.
By consistently incorporating these truths into my messages, I’m reinforcing my family members’ identity in Christ. This foundation helps them navigate life’s challenges with confidence, knowing that they have God’s power working within them (Ephesians 3:20).
Although I’ve incorporated these messages into my family’s Christmas tradition, this practice is not limited to this holiday. Writing a card for a birthday, graduation, wedding, or any other special occasion can be a way of infusing God’s love and truth into moments that matter.
Looking back, I am grateful for this tradition that started so simply yet has brought so many blessings. My prayer is that my children and grandchildren will continue this practice, speaking life into each other and pointing one another back to God’s love and truth. In a world that often emphasizes achievement and performance, we need reminders that our identity is found in Christ alone.
Ultimately, these messages are an expression of God’s love through us. They remind us that we are His beloved children, created for a purpose, and held securely in His grace. By taking time to reflect, pray, and write life-giving words, we can leave a lasting legacy of faith, hope, and love for future generations.
I encourage you to start your own tradition of writing life-giving messages. Whether you do it once a year at Christmas or more frequently, these tangible, handwritten acts of love can have a profound impact. They serve as visual reminders that we are deeply loved, uniquely created, and purposefully placed in this world.
Resource: Crafting Christmas Messages for Generational Blessing
A two-hour virtual workshop that will give you tools and resources to create heartfelt Christmas messages tailored to your loved ones that are filled with words of hope, love, and encouragement.
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Renee Bethel, author of Finding Me: A Woman’s Guide to Learning More About Herself, is a Professional Christian Life Coach and a Certified Enneagram Coach. Her passion lies in guiding growth-minded Christian moms towards embracing their identity in Christ and finding freedom in the finished work of Jesus. If you're ready to change the way you view yourself and your place in the world, join her FREE 31-Day Challenge to Embrace Your Identity in Christ.