For this month's lettesr, I chose to use the online letter writing tool. I don't use it often, but when I do I'm reminded how many fun templates they have, and how easy it is to attach photos.
I've already sent my Christmas cards, but wanted to write a Christmas letter as well. I had no idea what I was going to write about, but when I sat down and started writing, I was inspired to write about the 5 senses (inspired a homeschool lesson earlier this week).
Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year. In my country, Christmas is by far the most celebrated holiday. It seems that we find ways to treat all five of our senses in the days leading up to Christmas. For the sense of hearing, we have Christmas carols and songs. We hear these everywhere we go - on the radio, in stores, in church and in our homes. For the sense of taste we have foods that are associated with Christmas like the candy cane or sugar cookies. And then there is the sense of sight...it seems like everything gets decorated in special ways so our eyes can feast on the beauty of Christmas. We put trees inside our homes, and hang lights and ornaments on them. We decorate the outside of our homes with lights, and it's so pretty once it gets dark outside and the lights are shining. As far as the sense of smell, there are definitely smells associated with Christmas here. The trees we bring in our homes are pine trees and they have a very distinct smell. And finally there is the sense of touch...in some parts of our country it gets very cold and snows. Because it's cooler outside, we find ways to warm ourselves inside with warm drinks, fluffy, cozy blankets and sweaters - all appealing to our sense of touch.
I think God gave us five different senses so we can more fully experience things...even Him. Did you know that God is called Emmanuel? And did you know that Emmanuel means "God with us"? Christmas is more than the birthday of Jesus - it's an annual celebration to remind us that God sent his son Jesus to live on earth with us. And even though He is no longer physically here on earth with us, He is still with us - in everything we do and experience.
Here are some Bible verses I found about our five senses...
"Taste and see that the Lord is good" - Psalm 34:8"Ears that hear and eyes that see, the Lord has made them both." Proverbs 20:12"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." - 1 John: 1"through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him...For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being save and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15
This Christmas I urge you to notice God through your five senses - and thank Him for allowing you to experience things to see, smell, touch, hear and taste. Merry Christmas dear one. May God - Emmanuel - truly be with you and your family this Christmas.
Love, the Foley family
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| (I cropped this so only the lower, right part of the house was showing) |
