Hi Friend!
What a wonderful life. This week was packed with highs and lows – my favorite way to live. It started with an unexpected bonus stop on my whirlwind travel last weekend. I finally got home late Sunday night ready to kick off the week. What I love about “tomorrow” is that as much as I think I know what’s going to happen, I don’t!
My money-pit house in Guthrie is ready to go on the market! Woo Hoo! The game is now just to see how much money I don’t lose. I became part of the majority, attacked by sickness which had me out for about 2.5 days. I got to celebrate with Sarah and Monica our end of year and reviewed plans for 2024.
Best of all, my kids are both in town and came over last night to offer our annual baking experience. I make the same request every year – buckeyes, oreo balls, a wreath and cut-out cookies. They’ll be back on Christmas Eve Day to make and frost the cookies. #Sugar
The consistency of tradition generates a deep sense of belonging. It is one of our fundamental core identity affirmers. It’s settling to be reminded “This is who I am, this is what our family does.” That’s one of the reason the ending of a marriage is so painful and destructive – it alters the foundation of our kids, and our own, security of place.
In tradition, we have our role, or we see others fulfilling their role, which offers us great comfort. In tradition, we reconnect with the most innocent version of ourselves and the purity of emotions that existed then. In tradition, we time travel to homes and locations and other seasons of life that seem like another world. In tradition, we are reminded of loved ones… moments… sayings… that were shaping us, and we didn’t even realize it.
Traditions are roots that ground and establish us.
BIG EMOTIONS
Holidays tend to generate the biggest emotions because they have the most traditions wrapped around them. Our entire experience with joy or sorrow in this season is directly tied to the health of our relationships within our family. If our relationships are positive, though the stress of details may wear us thin, the gathering of immediate or extended, offers reprieve and delight.
As you well know, if there is tension, division, unforgiveness, envy, grudges or some other dark retainer of pain, regardless of cheery decorations and whimsical songs, the physical ensemble is dreadful.
NEW TRADITIONS
We are capable of creating new traditions. We are able to plant our identities in new soil. We can grow more roots that go even deeper.
That’s actually what the baby-in-the-manger offered. When he became aman, he once said, “who are my mother and brothers?” As much as our birth family defines us, there is an opportunity to be, and become, more than the genetics and traditions of our biological ancestry.
It’s a simple matter of faith. Though courage and trust are not easy, they also are not complicated. Faith allows us to align and merge with some amazing traditions that have existed for centuries – making them our own; thereby grafting us into that family heritage.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Enjoy the people you are around.
2. Start a new tradition.
3. Cherish relationships.
4. Appreciate someone for how they keep traditions.
I meant for this to be a short message. We all have lots going on. #MyBad
Whether this season is pure bliss, deep agony or some annoying place in-between I hope you find moments that transport you to a time and place that brings your soul peace. That’s another thing the baby-in-the-manger offered: a peace that transcends our emotions, anxiety, gazillion thoughts, worries and fear.
Accessing that peace is the best tradition you can practice.
I hope you have an incredibly enjoyable Christmas season. I hope you are settled inside, so despite the conditions of familial relationships you can retain a joy and zest that serve you and others well. That seems like a good tradition to perpetuate. #MerryMerry