Traditions and Love

Hi everyone. I’m Sherry Douglas with Heart-Song. Traditions can be an important part of building family connections and a sense of belonging - at Christmas and other times of the year. They can foster a sense of closeness and pass down family values and beliefs from older generations to younger ones. Traditions can express love.

We have several of them that are a part of our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Some are more important than others, but one that I try to make happen every year is the making of my mom’s peanut butter fudge recipe. Mom hasn’t been with us for decades so this is just one simple way for us to remember her and all she brought to our family. It is a way to remember her love. She treasured Christmas morning, and I can remember her waking us very early because she was so excited! And that was after she stayed up late Christmas Eve putting together our gifts so everything would be perfect!

Traditions can be a part of your and my legacy. If you’re thinking you don’t have any, it’s not too late to start! It can be simple – like the fudge example – or it can be more detailed like having children act out the Christmas story from the Bible. Or everyone, including children, can bring an offering - some of their own money - to give to a family you know who is struggling or to an organization that helps those in need. Traditions give us a sense of identity and a strong sense of belonging. Traditions are about creating shared experiences and memories that bind generations together. Traditions are about love! May love be the foundation of your Christmas experience. Live the way you want to be remembered.