When you have children, doing something one time makes it a tradition. You know how it is…
When it comes to the holidays, it isn’t just the children who feel a sense of tradition. We adults feel it too. There are certain things that just are. Don’t mess with them.
Granny ALWAYS makes the stuffing. We ALWAYS use the leftover turkey and rolls for sandwiches Thanksgiving night. We ALWAYS put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving.
The boys ALWAYS string the lights.
We ALWAYS put tinsel on the tree (because Ty’s Granny ALWAYS put tinsel on her tree)
Daddy ALWAYS puts the tree topper on while everyone ooohs and aaahs.
We ALWAYS train the new baby in the house not to touch the tree and reward him with toys on the floor near the tree that are just his own.
And we ALWAYS play Christmas music while we decorate (and every day after that).
Tradition is so much a part of the holidays that we can easily become discouraged when traditions fail to happen at their regularly scheduled time or fail to happen at all. We feel as though something just isn’t quite right. We may even feel like everything is ruined if certain traditions don’t happen.
Ever wonder if Mary, all those many years ago, dreamed of having a normal, perfect birth with her midwife and the women of the family surrounding her in her home with all the things she would need for her first child right there clean and ready? I’m sure there were traditions among the Jewish women surrounding childbirth that Mary assumed would be a part of her birth experience. Yet, I am sure when she embraced her precious son, all those expectations melted away and any frustration she may have felt about being drug halfway across the country on donkey-back only to find herself birthing in a barn disappeared.
Traditions are not what this time of year is all about. Yes, they make things special and yes, we enjoy them, but don’t let the practicing of traditions become the be-all-end-all of Christmas. Don’t let the likely chance that something will change this year ruin your holiday season. Embrace what you are given. Embrace the Son.
Sherry says
Thank you for sharing! You are right that we can’t let changes in traditions to get our eyes and hearts off of the true focus of CHRISTmas – CHRIST! 😀
MolleenCarie says
Great post, Amy. God has given you a wonderful gift; it is so encouraging to see talents being used for His glory. Thank you for the reminder of what the season is about.
amanda says
i think this is something that needs to be shared more. our ‘world’ is getting so over commercialized about christmas. and totally losing sight of what really matters!
love the pictures. i’m getting excited to put our tree up.
Melanie says
Loved this post!
I am blessed! says
I’m always looking for new traditions to start. We started reading Jotham’s Journey this year, so that’s new. We’re also doing Jesse tree ornaments for the first time.
Lynnette Kraft says
Hey, the guys do the lights at your house? I think it should be that way here too! (I despise that part but am the one who does it).
Looks like you had a great time ‘trimming the tree’. I’ll have to admit, I’m SHOCKED that mountain man doesn’t demand a real tree! HA! Fake trees are great because you don’t have to keep them alive (and you can put them up earlier and keep them up longer!).
When we were kids we always used tinsel. I think tinsel is very old fashioned and pretty. I looked for it last year but couldn’t find it anywhere. Where did you get yours?
Have fun staring at your tree. I’ve been having my bible time in the morning in my chair by the tree (with my morning coffee of course!). Sweet moments.
Sarah says
We too are a family big on traditions. We’ll say, “That’s just what we do,” or our new saying, “That’s how we roll.” 😉 We follow some traditions that were in place when I was still a baby and now we are all married with children. These traditions really do help turn our minds and hearts to Christmas and how special it is.
There was on Christmas when there was a total break from tradition. It was merely 4 months after my mother went to heaven (8 years ago). The pain was so fresh that we couldn’t bear to be all the traditional places without her. So, we all crowded into a small beach house and celebrated there. It was so special and wonderful. Traditions are wonderful and so are breaks in tradition.
LOVED your post!! Thank you!
Camille says
Beautiful and thoughtful post Amy! God bless you!
In His Love,
Camille
Angie says
LOVE it!!!!
Lisa notes... says
I love the thoughts you shared. I have so many traditions, too, but I don’t need to be too tied into the traditions that I forget what they represent. Thanks for provoking my thoughts.
Blessings,
Lisa
Jenny says
I loved how you started the post! It seems like some of our favorite traditions involve food…the sweet things we don’t normally eat! Your pictures are fun!