Great Tradition

As I write this entry, we are in the middle of the Christmas season. A great time to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. However, it often becomes a season of crazy calendars and "to do" lists. In our home there never seems to be a shortage of concerts, programs and events we need to attend and/or prepare for. It is very easy to loose sight of why we are celebrating in the first place. My husband and I have tried to develop some traditions to help us make sure that our family remembers the true reason we have Christmas. I am going to share some of those traditions with you today, if your family doesn't have any traditions, I hope one or two of them inspire you to start something your children will remember when they are grown and have their own families.

Our family traditions begin the Sunday after Thanksgiving with the putting up and decorating of the Christmas tree. It is a great afternoon of hanging lights and ornaments, topped with the addition of the family angel. Each child has their own sack of ornaments that they have or that have been given to them. They each get a chance to put their ornaments on our family tree, a new adventure each year as we rediscover the ornaments in our sacks. 

Family devotions during the month of December come from the book "The Advent Jesse Tree" by Dean Meador Lambert. It is a great resource. Each night the children take turns adding an ornament to our Jesse Tree. Every ornament helps us remember something about Christ and the wonderful gift He is to all of us. When all the ornaments are on the tree, Christmas has arrived!

December 6th is a fun day in our home. That is the day that we remember a gentlemen named St. Nicholas. He would put small gifts in the shoes of young children in his community. Our kiddos will put their shoes outside their bedroom doors and I will fill them with little trinkets and goodies for them to enjoy in the morning. Although this is a very fun activity, it is also one that reminds us that there are many people in our community that have needs that aren't being met, and why we collect hats, gloves and other items to share with them. 

The last couple traditions we have are baking cookie packages for each of our neighbors, going to Worship on Christmas Eve, pancakes on Christmas morning with fruit and whipping cream and giving each child three presents (just as Jesus received 3 gifts). Although none of these traditions are extravagant, they are all things that our children look forward to each year and things that help us remember why we are celebrating in the first place.

No matter how your family celebrates this Christmas, I pray that your home is filled with the Love and Joy of Christ. May each day of this busy season provide you an opportunity to stop and share great traditions with your family and friends. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given!