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Side Note on Traditions

Many may know I've battled with family traditions, specifically Christmas ones for awhile now. I  don't fall in love with most traditions, especially those that are just for the sake of tradition and Mr Smith even more so. However, I do believe the scriptures make reference to righteous AND unrighteous traditions of their fathers, so we can filter for our own families. I only want our heart in it. I want our kids to enjoy time as a family and traditions are great for them. 

With Christmas, I also need Christ in it. We are celebrating Him and that's why "happy holidays" makes me a little squeamish. So it's Hanukkah too and some Christians are beginning to wonder if it's best to celebrate with them vs the pagan roots of many Christmas traditions (or are they, it is debatable?!). I think there is a balance with no need to go to the extreme. While other cultures are fascinating, we do have to find a way to celebrate Christ. While our daily efforts are essential, I find an entire month very worthwhile. It boosts my spirits as I head into a dreary winter season. It refreshes my testimony of Christ. I don't worry about which date was picked on a calendar that was once very different from my own. I don't worry about what decorations people decide to put up. I don't worry about what carols or stories parents tell their children. What I do care about is how we focus on Christ in MY home. 

In the end, I don't worship the tree or what it may have originally represented. I worship the light in brings into my home. Idont worship Santa. I worship THE gift of Christmas, and I believe we all can share that spirit of love & giving. And  yes, there is a very big need to get our faces out of the catalog and give our kids what they really want...our affection. There is a need to die down the commercialism for a little more quality time; however, this season IS magical for many reasons, but mostly because we are taking more time to be a little more selfless, a little closer to each other and Christ. And I celebrate that.

I don't really know what traditions I want to carry on, but I do know #lighttheworld is important to me and giving my kids the gift of service will be my main focus. Turns out a tree is also tradition & it's staying. I will continue to read Christmas stories, listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies and display nativities (best accurate portrayal anyone??) & angels where I can. I'm 100% sure Mr Smith will never hang outside lights by his own free will. We know Christ received 3 gifts, so I'm giving my children 3 individual gifts too, whether or not the wise men were really three kings. I enjoy filling their stockings too, I haven't looked up where that came from. I won't tell my kids Santa is real, but I'll always encourage them to imagine wonderful things. It's okay for Santa to be Jesus' helper. We can all be helpers on the earth. The goal is to have Christ at the center - Christ is THE real gift giver.

I would like to add an advent calendar where I can write a note for each day of something we can do that helps us center our hearts and teach our kids about what really matters. I think this would help me as a parent as well, keeping it organized. It's so hard to teach them how to serve & how to be grateful, but it's worth the effort.

Tis the season to bring tidings of great joy. I like the warmth of Christmas inside when it's so cold outside. Christ warms our souls. And it's worth taking the time to enjoy this celebration. Something perfect entered the imperfect world and changed it forever.



FYI - I don't do the Easter bunny or easter baskets. They're weird. Egg hunts are fun if you can think of a way to talk about Christ (let me know). And Halloween is also another tricky one I don't love encouraging, but I don't mind participating on a small level. I won't ever decorate with scary things, but I think it can be fun for the kids to have fun things to look forward to as far as dressing up and handing out candy. And birthdays are a good way to make the children feel special, so I don't feel like there is harm in doing just that. What other traditions exist?

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