Celebrating Holidays When Separated by Distance

Serving in the military is a great honor but it is one that comes with a great deal of sacrifice. This is true for service personnel as well as for their family members. Staying strong on the home front is an important part of showing support of veterans and current service members. Celebrating the holidays together may not be possible in the physical sense but there are ways that special days can be shared even when family members are separated by great distances.

The Best Christmas Present of All

Preparing a package full of Christmas memories is a great way to share this important holiday with the service member in your family. Enclose pictures, drawings, letters, and cards from each member of the family and then package it securely for shipping. Adding something from everyone creates a comprehensive vision of what actually took place during the holiday and will give your service member something special to look forward to. Letters are great but a package full of stories and pictures adds a whole new dimension to the package receiving experience. You can also encourage friends of your service member to include their own letters and cards.

When preparing this important holiday package, keep these tips in mind:

• It is best to keep the messages you send your service member loved one as simple as possible. Cards and typed or printed letters are most easily transported and are not as vulnerable as other, more delicate, items. You can pack a lot of love into carefully selected words.
• Talk about the activities each family enjoys and their own individual successes. Include rich and humorous stories from the home front and words of inspiration and courage. The time you take to prepare these special items will serve to enrich and uplift the service member in your family.
• Understand that it may take many weeks for your package to reach your service member. Delivery can be delayed for many reasons and may not be able to happen at all in certain areas. Be patient and have faith that your words will reach your loved one.

Showing Gratitude Through Your Support

One of the most profound ways that service members can be supported by their family is through the expressions of faith and compassion from veterans themselves. If you know a veteran or have one in your family, ask for their input and support during this important time. Sharing stories with them and learning from their wisdom will help give you strength that you can pass on to your family member in service. Connecting the generations through service is a profound exercise. This reaffirms the importance of values like service and liberty.

Connecting with a veteran also gives you the valuable opportunity to get to know them. They are welcomed into the circle of your family and can greatly enrich your own understanding of what your service member is going through. You can learn how to be a better source of support and courage, too.

Christmas is a holiday best celebrated with family. When families are separated by distance, it can be hard to keep the spirit bright. Take time to prepare long letters and colorful cards for family members serving far from home.

Related products you may like: