Traditions and Transitioning

What a joy and a responsibility it is to pass on to the next generation the wonders of our God!!

Traditions can be a way through which we demonstrate to our kids the things of the LORD. With traditions we can bring significance and give meaning to the celebrations throughout the year. Traditions can help to establish the focus as we celebrate birthdays, Easter, Christmas and other holidays. Traditions create a sense of security, expectation, and celebration! Traditions allow for memories to be made and help them to not be forgotten.

But O how hard it can be to have tradition... especially when transitioning!

For almost a year now we have been in transition. Moving from one place to another we have had to forgo some of the traditions we had tried to establish over the first years of marriage and parenthood. What had been "normal" was no longer available because of living in a new place and with new people.

So what have we done.

We started a new tradition of a Pancake Thanksgiving Breakfast, beginning the day by celebrating God and each other, taking turns to thank the LORD for what He has done in each person around the table and giving thanks to Him for who He is.

Together we finger painted our advent wreath. This year it is a rainbow color to represent the promises of God and to help us to celebrate His promises revealed in Christ as we read through the story of redemption. We long to be reminded and strengthened Christmas season as we remember that through all the transitioning we can continue to experience God as faithful to all the promises He has made. We long to have the same heart as Abraham :

20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." 23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Romans 4:20-25 (ESV)

So as you enjoy either old traditions or make new ones this year, remember the promises of God and grow strong in your faith, believing that it is Christ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.