Traditions are fun.....(Is anyone else singing in the voice of an older Jewish man right now?) Anyway, sometimes I forget how important and meaningful family traditions can be. I've noticed when older siblings gather together, most of the memories shared center around the traditions of their family. Often Easter sneaks up on me, but this year I felt a bit more prepared spiritually which is a grace of the Lord for which I am thankful. I almost forgot some of the "silly" traditions that we do such as dying Easter eggs and making bunny cakes. It makes me smile that even as my kids are growing older, they still love doing things that we do as a family year after year. My parents weren't with us this year and even my mother asked for picture texts to be sent to her of all that we did over the weekend from dying eggs to Easter lunch. I'm not sure I've ever stopped long enough to be thankful for the traditions that my parents were faithful to do with our family in my younger years and to be grateful to have the chance to create new traditions and memories with my own family. Traditions provide a sense of stability and a bond between those that share them. Have you ever tried to explain a tradition that seems perfectly normal to you but is rather baffling to the listener? Jay thought is was rather odd that we eat Mexican food and chocolate fondue every New Year's Eve, but that's just what we had always done in my family so dipping in a communal pot with long forks and crumbly pound cake didn't bother me as it did him. For some reason when Emma was little, I made the dessert for decorating the Christmas tree night s'mores. Most people eat those around a campfire, but the Sampsons eat them in the midst of Christmas lights and bulbs. (This tradition really grosses Jay out as he is not fond of messy eaters and I take pics of the kids every year with gooey marshmallow and smeared chocolate all over the faces). It's fun to do things that just your family understands and cherishes. Spiritual traditions are even more important. The habits that we ingrain into our children now can be grown by our Lord and passed down from generation to generation. I want to take the time to reflect this year and evaluate the traditions that we are forming within the walls of our home. Are we emphasizing what is good and pure and true and right? Are we maintaining a Godly perspective on what we participate in as a family? Will the traditions that my children share with their own children honor God above all else? Thank you Lord for traditions and memories that bring us close and give me the wisdom to make You the central focus of our home in all things.
No comments:
Post a Comment