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Dear
Friends,
Developing
Christmas Traditions
Incorporating Christmas traditions in your own
family may seem overwhelming, but here are a few tips taken from
Krista Fogelson's article on “Capturing the Joys of Christmas through
Family Traditions” that may spark an idea or
two:
1.
Traditions should be simple. Reading the
Christmas story in Luke 2 on Christmas Eve, watching a favorite Christmas
movie, or even having the same breakfast menu Christmas morning all count
as "traditions." Select and decorate the tree
together. Tell your children the story behind each ornament as it
goes on the tree. Attend the community tree lighting ceremony
together, your child's Christmas concert, or your church's Christmas Eve
service. Another simple, but fulfilling tradition is to reach out
to others by giving gifts to a local hospital children's ward, gospel
mission, or shelter.
2.
Traditions do not always have to be
planned. Donna Green, author of “Christmas At Our
House,” shared how a mistake became a family
tradition. One year, she sent her
family out to purchase apples for her traditional Christmas
centerpieces. When they
accidentally returned with pomegranates, a new tradition was
born. Now, she decorates for
Christmas with pomegranates.
3.
Build traditions around
your family and their unique talents. If one of your
children is an artist, allow him or her to create the cover for your family
Christmas cards. Or supervise the
decorating of the Christmas tree.
If another child is a writer, he or she can pen the family's
yearly Christmas letter. If your
family likes to sing, go caroling in the community or in rest homes. If you have a chef, bake cookies or
build a gingerbread house. If your
tribe is a bunch of actors, participate in a Christmas pageant.
4.
Incorporate the five senses into your
traditions. This will
help imbed traditions in your child’s memory for years to come. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and
feelings of Christmas are what we call the Christmas spirit! These
things make the season so special. And when your children
ask: "Why do we do all the things we do for
Christmas?" Share with them that it is our family's way of
remembering and thanking God for all that he has done for us in the
sending of His great gift - Jesus Christ!
Because of families,
Bruce R. McCracken, Ph.D.
Founder / President
House on the Rock Family Ministries
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If you
found this information helpful, we have made other Pebbles of Truth articles
available on our website (www.hotrfm.org). Each month we feature
articles on the topics of: men's issues, marriage, blended families,
parenting, and church ministry to families. You will also find a
great deal more information about House on the Rock Family Ministries!
Thanks for visiting.
Please
feel free to forward this to friends and family … we just ask that you
keep it intact … thanks
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