o you miss Christmas already? Back in December, we knew we could savor the month when penmanship burst out of retirement, invaded our electronic ease and defied the address labels and ink-stamps of the world. Even as the regular monthly bills and annoying advertisements continued to flood our mailboxes, we could count on receiving a good feeling when seeing a hand-addressed Christmas card.

But did you notice a trace of disappointment after you finished fielding the onslaught of Christmas cards, hand-written addresses or not? As you waded through the pictures of beaming parents, growing kids and costumed pets, you may have felt lucky to receive an actual letter detailing the sender's account of the last year. After all, somebody actually took the time to write something! You may have chosen to ignore the fact the letter was typed, self-centered, and intended for mass distribution.

Sure, it's good to read an abridged account of a year-in-the-life of the friends you do or don't see or hear from often, but why have we come to accept these one-sided accounts as letters? During the time of year when people seem to reach out the most with time, gifts or communication at Christmas, true, honest communication to individuals still seems to sputter.

While we may still share our lives face-to-face, over cellphones, or via e-mail, a hand-written letter that shares about the life of the sender and shows concern about the recipient these days proves a rare art-form. For those who refuse to accept the standard of today's quick-paced communication, a hand-written letter can serve as a gift in the attempt to spark through the daily cold and ignite a relationship to greater heights.

The apostle Paul knew about starting fires of communication. In his epistles, he did not just express his concerns for the advancement of the Gospel, for his own needs or for the churches he addressed. He showed concern for individuals, acknowledging their needs and urging the recipients to provide aid.

In his letters addressed to Timothy (1 Timothy and 2 Timothy in the New Testament), we see an even greater example of how personalized letter writing can demonstrate care not often found or expressed through modern channels or through letters intended for the masses. The time, effort and concern Paul showed for Timothy pulses off the pages and demonstrates to us what a relationship of care looks like. Despite Paul's other commitments and concerns, he serves to teach us how to relate to individuals through his letters to Timothy.

Will you take the time and effort to examine your relationships and see where a hand-written letter to a loved one would communicate love? Even a quick note to a friend could go a long way to show your care. You don't have to wait until next Christmas. Valentine's Day is right around the corner.