The Gift of Changing Traditions

As Christmas quickly approaches, I am beginning to reflect on the different parts of the season. 

Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of Christmas traditions. We always went to both of my grandmothers' houses on Christmas Day. We would string popcorn and wrap it around the tree as garland. One thing I really enjoyed as a kid was getting to open a Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. We didn’t have much money, but there was something exciting about opening one gift early.

Even though, I loved that tradition, I’ve never actually carried it over into my own family. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because I have this quirky unspoken rule for myself--I can only open gifts on the actual day of the event. Whether it's my birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas, opening a gift early just feels wrong to me. I don’t know, maybe I am the only one who feels that way.

I'm not sure you'd call this a tradition, but I did it every year. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was the kid who loved pretending to be a Christmas present detective. I'd pick up my gifts, do a little shake, and try to guess what was inside. It was like solving a mystery, and I must say, I was pretty good at it. Either that, or my mom was just that predictable with her gifts! I'll stick with the idea that my detective skills were top-notch. Ha ha. 

It is interesting to see the traditions we keep and those we let go of as we get older. 

One of my favorite Christmas traditions as an adult is attending Christmas Eve service. My favorite part is when the lights are turned off and the candles are lit one by one, while voices around me begin to sing "Silent Night." There's always such a calming peace that surrounds me as I stand in awe. On this one night, people come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. 

Over the years, I've learned that traditions can change. The things we did with our kids when they were little aren't always the same as what we do now that they're older. We will keep some traditions for a lifetime and others may be for a season.

Sometimes, a tradition we once loved can become difficult to continue, or a new tradition we hoped would be wonderful turns out different than we expected. At the end of the day, it's important to ask ourselves what truly matters and what we want to gain from that tradition. If it no longer serves its purpose then it may be time to move on. Letting go of a tradition that isn't working can be hard, but it can also open the door to new possibilities.

If you've been struggling through a tradition and just haven't let it go yet, I am giving you the gift of permission. Permission to let go of that tradition that has become more hassle than beneficial. It is okay to let go and move on. Our traditions can change and grow with us. 

When everything else is changing and moving fast, one thing remains the same, JESUS. And isn’t that so beautiful?

As we continue to move through the Christmas season, let's be mindful of the traditions that are truly benefiting our families.

What are some of your favorite traditions? I would love to hear them.