Christmas Holly Letters

Every December, a special letter would arrive in the mailbox on our front porch. A letter from a dear friend. Her name was Ethel. She was an older woman and a friend of my parents. I first met Ethel at a restaurant as Mama and I sat at a table and waited to place our order. The door to the eatery opened and in walked a woman with beautiful red hair. Her smile was contagious. She was well known. Joy filled voices called out welcoming this sweet person. “Hello Ethel! How are you doing today?” was heard throughout the building. Giggles and hugs were shared as she paused at each table to check on friends.

Ethel stopped to sit with us and share the news of her daily routine. She always had a story or two to make us laugh. Her beautiful red hair was always perfectly teased and sprayed. Never a hair out of place. Sharing a conversation with Ethel was a bright spot of the day. At that time, I was a teenager and at a very impressionable point in my life. I would not realize the impact Ethel had on me until I was much older.

One of Ethel’s favorite things to do was send cards at Christmas. When the mail arrived at our home, I checked for a specific detail on the envelopes. Ethel made her letters special by drawing a few holly leaves on the envelope and on the actual letter. A few hand drawn holly leaves with a couple of red berries adorned each letter. The extra time Ethel took to draw those Christmas holly leaves made me feel special and loved. A simple act of creating a bit of art for the envelope and letter helped a teenager look forward to the mail. The anticipation of a card or letter from Ethel made checking the mailbox everyday a very special event.

Ethel lived about three miles from our home. She could have easily handed the envelope to us when we saw her at the restaurant. Yet, she took the time and money for stamps to write a note on each card, decorate the card and envelope with Christmas holly leaves, and bring joy to others. I believe she decorated every card and that finding her cards and letters in the mailbox brought happiness to many people. Each year, I responded by mailing a card to our dear friend Ethel.

Years later, as a married adult, my husband and I continued to receive cards from our friend Ethel. We mailed cards and letters to her, too. We had moved to another part of the state and couldn’t visit in person with our dear friend. A time came when no card arrived in the mail. I signed a card to Ethel and placed it in the mailbox. I thought maybe her card to our family was lost. That was not what happened. A few weeks later, a letter from her son arrived in the mail. Ethel had gone to be with the Lord. There would be no more letters with Christmas holly and berries from Ethel. My heart ached. No more red and green ink on the pages. No more updates from Ethel.

I wish I would have told this sweet woman about the impact she and her Christmas holly drawings had on my life. Now, almost forty years later, I am still thinking of Ethel and missing her. Thank You Lord, for bringing special friends to help us draw closer to You. Thank You for the gift of friendship at Christmas and at all times.

Merry Christmas! 

Melissa Henderson