I love Christmas cards that have a letter tucked in them. If it is a form letter, no problem. I just want a letter that gives me the highlights or hardships of the year. If a letter was mistakenly sent to me by a stranger, I would still probably find pleasure in reading it. The nastiest letter I ever wrote was to a father who suggested that his 2009 letter might be his last.
“How dare you be so selfish! I rebuke you. I expect another letter next year and I will pay postage if I have to.” I was kidding about the selfish part, but I definitely expect another letter this year.
And this is the reason I am writing a Christmas letter to you. If I like to read them and know what is on people’s hearts, I need to do the same.
So here goes. Condensed version.
After Sheri (my wife) and I went to Swaziland in July the action centered around two pregnancies and births. Jasper was born to Lindsay and Luke on September 13th, Adelaide was born to Lisa and Matt on September 22nd. Third and fourth grandchildren. Jasper came without a hitch, other than that he was almost born in a car rather than a hospital. Adelaide was a test for all of us. Both are doing well. I think, maybe, that Sheri and I talk about other things than grandchildren, but I don’t know what they are offhand. So that’s about it.
Except …..thank you.
“Thank you” is the basic theme of Christmas. We have received a gift, and we are not expected to repay the giver. Instead, we honor him as we enjoy the gift and say “thank you.” And when you get into a groove of saying “thank you” to the Lord, you find yourself saying it to other people too. “Thank you” is said more on December 25th than it is any other day of the year.
So here are my “thank yous” to the larger CCEF family.
Thank you for your encouragement that comes in so many forms: using our website, coming to classes, attending conferences, providing financial help, reading our books.
Thank you, distance education students, for investing so much time in being sharpened in biblical counseling. You work so hard. Please know that we value your partnership. Your comments to your recitation instructors get back to us and strengthen our entire program.
Thank you, on-site CCEF and WTS students, for your sacrifice of time and money. All the faculty are blessed by your presence, your papers, your questions, and even your class evaluations. You shape the future of biblical counseling more than you know.
Thank you, those who came to Virginia Beach for the November conference. It was like homecoming for us. Our regret is that we didn’t get to speak with each one of you personally.
Thank you, those who have helped us get on firmer financial ground. We would not exist as an organization without you. We just plain wouldn’t exist.
Thank you, those who invited us to NANC, ETS, AACC, and other gatherings of counselors. Your willingness to build bridges blesses and sanctifies us.
Thank you, churches that invited us to do seminars. Yikes, seminars are a ton of work for the host church. We are deeply honored that you would allow us to contribute to your church and your neighbors.
Thank you pastors, you make us feel like slackers. Your job is the hardest and the best. You are our heroes. Please know that we realize we have much work left to do. I think we do okay in bringing Christ to counseling, but we still have miles to go in helping bring clear, accessible, pastoral counsel to the church. Please keep working with us and being patient with us.
This Christmas we, at CCEF, are very grateful for the unity that we have in the Spirit and from the Spirit. We have enjoyed this collegial unity for a number of years, and we never take it for granted.
Blessings to you, blessings, as together we look back to the first advent and eagerly wait for the second.
Ed Welch is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF.
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