I've been thinking about Christmas traditions in our family lately, and how they might change over the coming years as my children continue to grow and will soon be moving away and starting their own families. In many ways this makes me sad, in other ways I'm excited to see what will come. Since I was a child I've celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. As I thought about this tradition, I realize it has changed a lot over the years. When I was very small I remember traveling from my Great Grandma's to my Aunt and Uncle's to my Grandma's and finally finishing at my house, opening gifts and snacking all along the way. As the years went on, the number of stops got less and less until for the past several years it's been at my Mom's house only. We still have stockings and we still have plenty of snacky foods and presents, but it's different. It's still good, just different. Years ago I began a tradition in our home of waking up Christmas morning and gathering around the tree to open a gift to our family together. The gift would include the story of the birth of Jesus, a reminder to focus on Jesus, as well as the baby Jesus from my nativity scene wrapped up in beautiful paper. It's one of my favorite traditions, but what will become of it when my kids are gone with their own families and their own traditions? I think my husband and I will continue it, but it certainly won't be the same. We have always went Christmas lights watching about a week before Christmas. We travel all around town looking for the best, most beautiful, cutest, funnest, and most gawdy light displays out there while singing Christmas carols and laughing like crazy! I don't even know how much of the holiday time I will see my kids in a few years. I guess that's the process of life, change is always happening. As long as we always put Jesus first and our family second, I guess I can live with some change. I will miss the traditions of the past, but I look forward to whatever new traditions crop up. I do hope my kids will carry some traditions on through the future generations. I'm so thankful for so many wonderful memories that I will cherish every day! Wishing you beautiful Christmas traditions and memories this Christmas and in many Christmases to come! God Bless!
~Kim
4 comments:
I can totally relate to your post. I have made so many traditions but I'm not sure my kids will continue them. I think my daughter will but my sons are a bit anti religious now (that breaks my heart). I have two of my three home this year but who knows what the future holds as they move on with their life. It is sad! I guess this is the time we make new traditions with our husbands.
I agree Shanda. My husband and I will be going to a Christmas Eve (afternoon) service together, just the 2 of us. We usually don't do Christmas Eve service because that's when our family celebrates. But I found an afternoon service so that will be a new tradition we start together. I'm so sorry about the boys. I'm sure you already are, but just keep praying for them. Sometimes they just need a little time of independence before they return. I know my kids have went through stages where they questioned their faith because they saw it more as our faith. They found their own path in Christ and now all is well. I pray yours will return to a faith of their own. Have a very merry and blessed Christmas!
~Kim
Yours sounds like the kind of beautiful home to which your children will return very often. :)
But the memories you created by those traditions will continue forever.
Beautiful post.
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