The Gift of Tradition

Growing up in a pastors family we rarely spent holidays with extended family. When I was younger I never realized how much I was missing out on because my parents always made holidays special. Traditions are a big part of why holidays are special to me. The thought of doing something each year that brings to mind memories of the previous years is so meaningful. 

My hubby jokes that I make a new tradition up each year and that if we do the same thing twice it automatically becomes a "tradition." That may or may not be true, but I can't help that I love traditions!

Traditions are the most valuable gift we can give our families and that is why I am so big on keeping them going and even making new ones. We may not be able to give Addyson the biggest and best things for Christmas but we can pass on gift of tradition. The memories she makes are ones she can pass on to her family in the future and the legacy of our family will carry on.

Little things like stockings on Christmas morning...are great but wouldn't be the same if they didn't have an orange in the bottom of them. My grandmother used to put an orange  in the foot of the Christmas stockings when my mom was a kid and mom passed it on to us. It's tradition!

Traditions can be silly things like the way I always make cheese sculptures to go with our Christmas Eve snacks each year. I mean nothing says Christmas like a nativity scene made out of Colby jack! 

One of my favorite things about Christmas are Christmas cards. I love looking at each one and displaying them. Six years ago I began saving the cards. Not in a horder way but as a reminder to pray for friends and family throughout the year. At the end of December I put all the Christmas cards on a ring and hang them in our kitchen. Everytime I see the card it reminds me to pray for the family that sent it. Throughout the year on Sunday nights I flip to the next card and pray for the next family throughout the week. It's a little tradtion that I love! So if you want to be prayed for send me a Christmas card!

Traditions evolve as families grow. When Andy and I got married we started new traditions like watching a Christmas movie as we decorate our tree. Our first Christmas as a married couple we were living in Florida and I really struggled to get into the Christmas spirit so one night we went to Starbucks for coffee and drove around town looking for Christmas lights. It is a tradition we do every year and one that I am most looking forward to now that Addyson is getting older. 

There are many more traditions I could share but don't have to time. I know not everyone has traditions and realize the holidays may not bring happy memories to mind. Some have experienced loss this year and the holidays are a reminder of what is missing in their lives. For you my hurting friend, traditions can be what keeps your fondest memories alive. Some may be from broken families and holidays just mean splitting time between people you love. Take the best memories or traditions and re create them this year. For others this year is different from any other year as for you I would say start a new tradition this year! Whatever you face this Christmas I encourage you to embrace the gift of traditions and live fully present in the moment!

What are your favorite traditions?