I wake to the commotion of too many people trying to get ready in our 1200 square foot house. We have one shower and over ten people that need to use it. I roll back over into my blankets knowing full and well the water will be tap-cold at best by the time I get to use it.
I peek through the curtains and even though it's a drizzly, grey morning, I smile, because it's Christmas morning. Being 31 has nothing to do with how exciting Christmas morning feels. I nudge my wife and we both start getting ready. Without a word everyone in the house knows precisely what the agenda for the day is.
We'll take two cars from Clackamas to Canby, one heading to Starbucks to get coffee, the other to pick up Grandma to take her to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where she's attended regularly for over 40 years and where we go every Christmas with her. We'll head from there back to her house where Ben will make us his famous egg conglomeration with mystery meats and once we're sufficiently stuffed, we'll head back home to feed animals, and then finally open presents.
There are countless traditions and routines people have for the Holiday season and there are probably better ways to celebrate than how we did, but there was a certain comfort in knowing what to expect. Creating and sticking to our Holiday traditions took the individuality out of the Holiday season and created a oneness that is rarely duplicated in my family.
With three of us kids now in Arkansas and Ben (our oldest brother) in Venezuela playing baseball, we will stay in Arkansas for Christmas and this year will be the first year that we skip that tradition. As I write this I have come to the realization that by stopping one set of traditions, we are inadvertently faced with the opportunity to start others.
This is an opportunity that I take seriously. If I am not being intentional in setting Holiday traditions this year than I am unintentionally saying, "Time with loved ones isn't that important."
Your family may have never had any Holiday traditions and maybe you're thinking, "This time isn't that important." I'd challenge you to amend that statement by saying, "It hasn't been that important before, but now..."
The best time to start a tradition is last year. The second best time is now. Give your family something to look forward to every year, even if it's just an egg conglomeration with mystery meats.
You don't need money, special decorations, or even to like each other very much to start a tradition. All you have to do is believe that spending time together is important enough to celebrate.
Fact
The tradition of gift-giving comes from the Three Wise Men's gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus.
Action
Create a new tradition for your family this Holiday season.
Question
What is one tradition you have always wished your family participated in?
Quote
“Christmas is a together sort of holiday.” - Pooh; Winnie the Pooh
Comments