Cards – A Dying Breed

Jeremiah 29:1 - This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

I remember times when my pain was at its worst. I didn’t think that I could stand one more minute of the burning and pounding pain. Then, I received a card from a friend. The card meant so much to me. There is just something tangible about holding a letter or a card in your hands.
 
Cards are a dying breed. Everyone uses Facebook or texts. They don’t send out written cards. Don’t get me wrong, I do like to relieve Facebook “happy birthdays”, but the sentiments can get lost in time as other messages in your feed take over. Where a card you can hold and read for years.
 
Whether it be someone who is sick, injured, are in pain or if someone close to you dies a card can make all the difference.
 
Now that you’ve decided to send out a card, what do you write in it? Your hand hovers over the blank page next to the quotes on the card. You’re not sure how to start. Here’s an article posted on ideas.hallmark.com titled, “Get Well Wishes: What to Write in a Get Well Card,” such as “hope you feel better every day,” and “looking forward to seeing you back at practice when you’re ready.” The article also includes what to write to family and friends, or to a child.
 
In addition, here are some ideas for what to write in a sympathy card, also from ideas.hallmark.com titled “Sympathy Messages: What to Write in a Sympathy Card,” such as “Sending healing prayers and comforting hugs; I’m sorry for your loss.” Hallmark also has suggestions for what to write in birthday cards, “Birthday Wishes: What to Write in a Birthday Card,” such as “Happy birthday to one of my favorite people in history ever.”
 
In Bible times messages were all written letters. They were sent by couriers from one place to the next. They could take days to months for that letter to arrive. Take a look at the kind of difference a letter made in the Bible verse above. A letter had been written by Jeremiah, the prophet, to the elders who were taken when king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel. The letter was important because the message of what was happening was written in it. It was received by the elders, priests and people who were exiled. It contained news about how long they would be in exile. His letter told the people to settle down and build houses. They were going to be there for seventy years before they would be freed from their captivity.
 
Letters and cards have been important for centuries. Let’s keep our eyes on how that card or letter would be received. I believe that anyone would be glad when they receive it. Now that you’re armed with ideas, take out that card and start writing!

Learn more