Scriptures - Deep Waters Christian Counseling

Tradition…Thrifty and Timeless

It is that magical season of Christmas. The stockings hang over the fireplace with garland and lights intertwined. The spruce tree dangles ornaments from Christmases past, each with a story to tell, and the fireplace is a blaze with fresh wood. Although the world around us proclaims, “It’s Christmas,” our bank account and this economy could not care less.

Our family has always been one to spend too much during the holidays, but this year, we are forced to think differently. We must admit, we have always known the Reason for the season, but we have also enjoyed splurging unnecessarily and wrapping those splurges up in brightly colored paper and bows.

But not this year, this year must be different. This year, we will feast on the memories of Christmases past and enjoy a change in our spending habits. We will still carry out the family Christmas Eve tradition of praying in the manger on Main Street...that’s free. But, we will skip the fancy sit down meal right before the manger. We will still share gifts on Christmas morning, right after reading the Christmas Story from Luke, but our gifts will be fewer, and that is okay.

You see, our family has celebrated Christmas together for 20 years and the truth is none of us can remember what we gave each other last year. But…we will always remember that the week before Christmas, we drag mattresses into the living room, watch Christmas movies all night, eat junk food and sleep under the lit Christmas tree. That tradition costs our family nothing in money and gains us everything in unity. Serving as a family at the local homeless shelter during the season always humbles us and brings us greater joy than we can measure.

Family traditions strengthen the family bond. Psychologically, the perception or the reality of being left out is a feeling is that five times greater than the grief of death. Being included in a family is actually a gift in itself. And isn’t that what Jesus really came to do? He came…to make us all family. So this year, examine your wallet less and your family more. Then, encourage your family to bless others. Find a widowed neighbor. Bless a family struggling in this economy. The family tradition of being a blessing to others is a gift that is never forgotten and is never outgrown.

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