“Goodness! That’s a bit dear, innit?”
British Husbands, Christmas Shopping Trips, 2024
Things are becoming dearer by the moment. By dearer, I mean more expensive. If you boil me down to my core elements, you’ll find that I’m roughly equal parts British and Old-Fashioned, so my vocabulary is a little more archaic than others.
As we round Christmas’ corner though, this word in particular seems to crop up more and more. I’ll hear people using it when I pass them in the supermarket, commenting on potential presents or the small size of chocolate bars and boxes. Perhaps more common though are the letters and cards that have begun to come through the door. “Dear Adsum & Anna,” or “Dear Ravenhills,” they read. How dear am I really, though? Am I worth the price of the card? Maybe I could base it on the time they spent writing? How many words, or is it more about the memories and sentiments those words conveyed?
Cards are often the simplest gifts we receive, but they can be the dearest, dear reader.
I doubt most people put quite the same amount of thought into the cards they receive as I’ve suggested, but equally, you don’t know what a few extra words might mean.
Card 1: Dear John, Merry Christmas, Love Mary
Card 2: Dear Resident #2, Happy Holidays, Love Your Neighbours at #8
Card 3: To John, Christmas is Here! From June
Card 4: John, Happy Christmas, Mark
Card 5: Dearest John, I just wanted to let you know how grateful we are that you joined our church this year. The kids were so happy when you gave them those toys last week. I know you said they had been gathering dust in the garage, but they haven’t stopped playing with them since. Lots of love, Phil, Grace, Maggie & Rhi
Most cards say very little.
Some, mean everything.
Who could you send a card to, that might hold your card dear this year?
Grace and Peace,
Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing men and women discipled in the context of the local church. They live in Reading, UK and are part of a church plant that meets in the town hall. Adsum edits the GCD Weekly Newsletter and can be found through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk. You can find all of Adsum’s previous articles for GCD here.
Last Week at GCDiscipleship.com
I believe the greatest fear of the holidays could be the lack of presence. Not a lack of presents (or gifts) but a lack of presence. No one wants to be alone during this season… Studies indicate that depression hits widows and widowers deepest at the holidays. I can almost guess that a full 98% of people reading this article would prefer to have someone, even if they didn’t really like them, to be with on Christmas over spending it with no one at all.
Emptying Yourself for the Sake of Jesus and Others
by
Sometimes when we choose servitude under the submission of God, we will have to be emptied out for his sake in ways we wouldn’t dream of. But it is always a blessing to be emptied of ourselves and filled up with Christ.
Afraid of the Dark
by Chrys Jones
The Light we celebrate at Advent is far brighter than a mere candle. The Light we know is so bright, we will one day need no sun because the glory of God will light up all eternity forever. What a glorious Light we will see! What joyous days we will live when all darkness is eradicated from the entire universe!
Plant Seeds, Grow Roots
The first time I heard the words, “church planting” I was about ten years old. I’ve since been a member of three church plants in two countries.