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The Gift of "Love Letters" in Your Life Story Book
By: Susan McKenzie
It's Christmas Eve and my printer is rolling out glossy full-color "Christmas Blessings" (love letters) to my children and grandchildren! As I select photos to add to their letters my heart swells with gratitude for every year I've had with them. Through the trials, the fun times, the silly and goofy days, and the deep and meaningful occasions, every moment is logged in my memory … but how does one get it out of your head and onto paper… something tangible to give to our children?
Every day we are living a legacy in front of our kids, whether they are in our home or a thousand miles away. This legacy holds our life experiences – how we responded, what we learned, and how we've benefited and grown… as well as photos, videos, letters, and other memorabilia.
This year let's give a gift of blessing that will launch our children into their destiny.
We can offer words of blessing that will heal their hearts and nourish their spirits. As you know, the words we heard from our own parents have helped to form our own lives, for good or for otherwise! Too many times as parents we get short-tempered with our kids and words stream out that we regret. Wouldn't it be nice to finish the year with words of love and blessing? We can all begin the New Year with clean minds, hearts, and a fresh slate to create our world on.
To write a "Christmas Blessing" or a love letter is really pretty simple and doesn't take much time!
What price tag can you put on a love letter?
A love letter doesn't have to be long and drawn out and you don't need to focus on the "bad" – there are ways to bless a person without even mentioning all the "yuck". It's a great practice for every day living, too, wouldn't you agree? Simply focusing on the greatness in each other and calling it out, naming it… makes it multiply! What we focus on multiplies.
Hey, we're all human… and to "err is human" … so how about if we give each other a gift this Holiday season that will close out 2010 with a blessing? You can stuff your love letter in a stocking, tie it up with a bow, or send it in an envelope!
Is there someone you know who could use some words of love and encouragement? Maybe someone who have never received a love letter, that you know. Is there someone who has lost a loved one this past year? Perhaps it's their first Christmas without a parent…
It could be, like Randy and me, that this is the 1st Christmas for one of your grandchildren! Whatever the occasion or circumstance, this year is the perfect year to begin a new tradition, if you've never written love letters or letters of blessing before. Including them in your Life Story Book is a cinch! Click on the Christmas gift below if you would like to see a sample "Christmas Blessing" to my granddaughter, Danielle.
Danielle's Christmas 2010 Blessing
Pass the blessing on to your family this year. And, if you dare, write a "love letter" to you, while you're at it. One of the greatest needs Randy and I run into when people share with us what is happening in their lives is a need to love and cherish themselves! Low self-esteem and self-hatred are running rampant. Not only can we offer a gift of love to our family and friends, but we can give ourselves the same gift this year!
Would you like to learn more about writing a Life Story and putting your "living family legacy" down on paper… in fact, a gorgeous full-color life story book? Something that can be created for FREE online, stored digitally, and published for less than $50? Hit the start button below and you will receive instant access to our FREE "All-in-One" Life Story Book Kit today!
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Give your family a gift they will treasure forever!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great idea! I used to teach kids who would get an occasional love note from their moms in their lunches. It was so cute! I’ll have to be sure to do that for my family at the next opportunity.
How wonderful, Lily! How old were the children that you taught? It really doesn’t matter the age – everyone, even we as adults, appreciate love letters! Thanks for sharing, Lily!
Oh, I think they were 7th graders at the time, around 12-13 yrs. old. Still made them happy, even if they were focused on being “cool.”
Wonderful article Susan! This is certainly something they’ll treasure forever!
Thank you Annemarie… we certainly do cherish our love letters! Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy New Year!
Susan, great idea. Put your thinking and love in writing and get it documented so the ‘receiver’ can refer to it over and over.
Exactly, Claudia! My son said he is going to keep his forever! I’m glad I did it and I’m glad others will too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Terrific idea!
Thank you, Denny 🙂
Susan,
Although I choose to not celebrate holidays, this story is packed full of the love we should show, share and feel every single day of the whole year!
There is no doubt that your grand-daughter, Danielle will cherish that letter her whole lifetime! As I read it I pictured my little grand-daughter, Maebh receiving and reading a letter like that from me:)
As a child I waited for the day I received something in the mail…imagine the surprise of a loving letter like this. It will fuel her self esteem for years. The cool thing is that then she will pass it along and so goes the goodness of your heart for generations to come.
Thanks Susan for an awesome idea, with excellent tips for furthering the parenting and grandparenting skills of us all.
Carla
http://CarlasTransportServices.com
Very true, Carla… self-esteem is so important to convey to our kids and grandkids! Sometimes we just need to make an intention to do it, and in the busyness of life we sometimes forget! I’m not much for all the holiday shuffle and bustle – it can add so much stress! I know your Life Story Book will be a rich family legacy for your loved ones!
What a nice idea that, not only do you give us ideas, you also let us see how you did it for your own family. The tone and relationship of the voice in your letter to Danielle was a real revelation. You are such an amazing resource!
Thank you, Sharon… you always bless and encourage me – words are so life-giving, aren’t they! Blessings to you down in Florida at the close of 2010… and wishing you a very prosperous New Year!
I’ll be doing this this afternoon for my son. What an amazing blessing you are with your beautiful ideas! These are the things we forget to do in the ‘busyness’ of our days. I’m also preparing a journal pre-written with questions for my mom so we can put together her storybook (I bought her your gold package for Christmas). I’m so looking forward to the process with her. Blessings to you!
What an extraordinary gift for a parent … and also for your son… really a way of connecting the generations, too… what a blessing you are to your family and also to me, Victoria! Thanks for sharing!