TRADITIONS have taken over when it comes to Christmas mornings. Traditions are the handing down of beliefs and customs from one generation to another. In some households it can be anything handed down from the past and so strongly rooted as to be considered a law. Thanksgiving is mostly rooted with turkey and pumpkin pie. Christmas is rooted under the Christmas tree!
I HAVE nothing against traditions. As a matter of fact; I love keeping up with family traditions; it is something that can be counted on! When I was a girl, I knew we would have Christmas because my mother was Christmas oriented. No matter what the financial condition was, we had Christmas. My mother was a creative planner long before her time and besides that, she had lots of children before me and had a lot of experience. I learned years later that she was not all that creative.
BECAUSE of family traditions it is hard to get a handle on the real meaning of Christmas. Out of my 1965 Webster’s Dictionary, Christmas means “anniversary of the birth of Christ celebrated on December 25th.” However the word when broken into two words, Christ mass, means Savior of the masses. The one who came to save the world!
A NEW TRADITION was instituted by Jesus when He died on the cross, and rose again. No longer was a trip to the temple needed for sacrifices, nor to the Priest for purification. A yearly visit was done away with because now we could worship our Savior moment by moment, hour after hour, day in and day out. The bridge that was built by Jesus, gave us passage into the throne of our heavenly Father!
CELEBRATING birthdays has been a worldly tradition for most. Growing up in my family we didn’t have a party but always a cake. When I was invited to a birthday party, taking gifts was customary. I always wanted a birthday gift! Didn’t get many, but then cake was good! To celebrate Christ’s birth is almost as grand as God’s birth announcements. We cannot hold a candle to God’s way of giving honor and praise but we can try, can’t we!
BIRTHDAY GIFTS for Jesus was a tradition at a church we attended for many, many years. The first of December we decorated the sanctuary and invited the church to come for the “hanging of the green’s!” After the tree was decorated we invited all to bring gifts for Jesus and place them under the tree. During our Birthday party for Jesus all the children would come up on the stage and sit around the tree.
YOU GUESSED IT! With some supervision, the children took turns opening the gifts for Jesus. Much needed supplies were unwrapped. Office supplies, Sunday School supplies, kitchen supplies, and bathroom supplies; supplies and more supplies. At home, we put gifts under the tree for our loved ones whether they have been good or bad. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 Gifts are a tradition that we love to keep passing on!
“THESE THINGS I remember, as I pour out my soul; how I went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.” Psalms 42:4 David is remembering His joy in the Lord! Christmas is a time for us to remember our joy in the Lord also. This Christmas let’s “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!” Psalms 100:4 Pray with thanksgiving in your heart and you will find the peace that passes all understanding. Merry Christmas! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/20/11
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