Traditions Bring Families Closer

Tanise, Tara, Nathan around table for our Family Home Evening--

I just want to say a few words about how I am pleased and touched by the effort put in to making and continuing traditions in the (our)family over the years.

Aaron asked me on the way to Tana's tonight as I sat in the front seat of the van about what were my Christmas' like that I remember about as I was growing up. I nver really thought about it before he asked. But, it brought some sadness and I searched in my mind to recall some pleasant, happy times. I do not fault my parents, they did the best they could.

My parents did not know any different. They were both raised Catholic and had chosen to NOT teach their children those beliefs. Perhaps that was a good thing. We went to Protestant churches as I was growing up. I longed for that spiritual connection linking me to God more in my life. I know and observe the past that now more than anything with my whole being. Then when I found the truth it has made all the difference in MY world!! The road less traveled, perhaps?

The understanding of what I had growing up gave me the motivation to make memories for my own children as they grew up. I pray that has been some stabilizing force in their lives and those of their own children. I won't fill any space here about some of those not so spiritual memories from my childhood. I think some of the reason I feel about CHRIST-mas now is by my closeness to my Savior as a convert and member.

I want all of you to know how important that is to worship, honor and love HIM, as the tiny baby in the manger, the Christ child, to the Master and teacher that he was, and IS, and as our advocate, the mighty God and Prince of peace, all inclusive as our Savior too. His example dominates my feelings about him. It is something that I learned and appreciated more and more as a convert to the Church. It makes my life so much more meaningful. The roots of my knowledge of Christ was as a child when we were taken to the Methodist church in Chicago when I was four years old. I learned the Christmas songs, Away in the Manger, Joy to the World, and We Three Kings, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.

Back to the traditions formed with my own children: We read in Luke, about baby Jesus and his birth in a lowly stable, we had Christmas Stockings, baked cookies, made chocolate fudge, and did an annual family photo and put them on our Christmas cards. I love that my children all do that annual family picture each year now too. Along with the stocking stuffers and the baking! I like the tradition of getting together the Monday before Christmas for FHE now as a family and I do my own planned get-together with all of the family.

I hope these are the things that bonds us and brings us closer as family and continue too. The ones that are missing are the ones who live farther away. I think that is why when we have our reunions I make them like a Christmas celebration. I like that tradition of reunions too when we have our family photos of ALL of us.

I encourage all of you to ponder what you do and what you can do to add to your own memories with your own families.

I just wanted to share some of my observations which came from Aaron's question of what I remember of my own Christmas' as I was growing up. Thank you, Aaron.