Holiday Traditions

On the Walk by Faith morning show they asked a question,

“Which one is needed to feel like Thanksgiving, Turkey or

Football?” No brainer, turkey, right? It made me think, what

things need to happen in order for it feel like Thanksgiving and

Christmas.

I am not exactly sure when we started this tradition, but

as a family we all go to the movies! My favorite tradition

though, has to be putting up the Christmas Tree. With our

bellies full of turkey we look at each ornament and remember how

it came to be ours.

I am not sure why but this year it has been hard for me to

get into the Christmas spirit. My guess is the weather. When I

think of Christmas, I think of snow and there is no snow here.

Even shopping for presents it still did not feel like Christmas.

My attempt of wearing a santa hat, playing Mariah Carey, and

watching Elf did not work. That was when I realized my heart was

in a different kind of spirit. This was the first year I started

a new tradition, reading a chapter of Luke starting on December

1st through the 24th. Every night the words of Jesus covered my

mind and He revealed himself to me in ways I was not expecting.

This was also my first year teaching about the birth of

Jesus to 3 year olds. I got questions from Jesus being in Mary’s

tummy to if the had names. It occured to me that this would be

the year for them that they really understood Christmas. Our

memory verse for my class was “Thank you for your wonderful

gift, Jesus.” 2nd Corinthians 9:15.

As I read about Jesus’ final days on this earth I was

reminded of that memory verse. I was fully aware of the depth of

the only present I actually need. My hope for you is that it

doesn’t feel like Christmas until you have shared the story of

Jesus. Not only the story of a beautiful baby in a manager, but

the story of a King on a cross. My hope is that you can bring

the tradition of Jesus into your conversations around the dinner

table eating turkey and with football playing in the background.

Or maybe in your car on the way to the movies. Because He is the

REAL gift of life.

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the

power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born

will be called holy- the Son of God.” Luke 1:36

And when they come to the place which is called Calvary, there they

crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on

the left. The said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they

do.” Luke 23:33-34

He is not here, but he has risen. remember how he told you, while he was

still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of

sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Luke 24:6-7