It’s that time of year again. A lot of people wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but in case you didn’t know, Thanksgiving is this week. You’ve still got time, but I’m just saying, get started before it’s too late!
That’s right, I’m talking about Christmas cards. Last year, my husband and I skipped Christmas cards. But because this year is our son’s first Christmas, you better believe we’re sending out ALL the Christmas cards.
This brings up a very important topic of discussion…it’s near and dear to my heart. I’m talking about grammar. More specifically, Christmas card grammar.
After I sent him the proof of our Christmas card, my husband asked if it should read, “The Howsdens’,” with an “s” followed by an apostrophe. So that is what brings me here today, to help people spread Christmas cheer with proper grammar.
You almost never need to use an “s” apostrophe when it comes to signing a family Christmas card. It should either be “The Howsden Family” or “The Howsdens.” An “s” apostrophe suggests that there is possession of something. If you were to say “The Howsdens Christmas card,” you would be correct. But simply leaving it at “The Howsdens’” is wrong.
Put simply, use an apostrophe “s” to show ownership or possession of something. That goes for singular nouns. It’s another story when you are talking about a noun that ends in an s. For example, my son’s name is Silas. If I were to invite you to his birthday party, I would invite you to Silas’ birthday party.
Believe me, this was a topic of discussion when we were picking his name before he was born…
If your last name ends with “s,” and to write that you possess something, it should be “s” apostrophe. Jesus’ birthday, for example. Get it? Clear as mud?
Each year I see grammar mistakes on Christmas cards, and it’s sad. However, don’t miss this, as big of a grammar enthusiast as I am, it doesn’t matter.
That might seem contradictory since I just spent so much time explaining the proper way to use an apostrophe, but I mean it. What is most important this holiday season is not being correct, but being present and being like Jesus.
I could let improper grammar ruin my day, and even ruin my opinion about somebody, but I have a choice to do otherwise. The same goes for you. You have the choice to choose grace and peace rather than choosing to be right this holiday season.
I know the annoying or difficult conversations will come up with a cousin or family member you don’t often see. That’s just how the holidays are. However, if you’ll choose peace and be meek enough to let it go without embarrassing whomever has done you, or the grammar universe, wrong, you will be able to call yourself faultless and blameless. Phil. 2:14-16 says,
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
Instead of engaging in an argument, pray for that person. Don’t pray for them because they have a different political opinion. Don’t just pray for them because they downright annoy you, and most certainly don’t pray for them because they can’t use proper grammar on their Christmas card.
Instead, pray that they would see Jesus’ love for them this holiday season. The holidays can be hard for a myriad of reasons. Be kind and love others, regardless of their grammar and shortcomings.