Traditions

From a very young age I learned the special significance the nativity held for my dad.  As we set up the nativity each Christmas season, Dad would tell me the story of Jesus' birth. It was one of my favorite traditions.

I was allowed to play with the nativity sets if I was very careful, and with imagination, the story became very real for me.

 The tradition continued into the next generation as my daughter Jessica played with the same nativity set that I had. One night while we were visiting my parents she had been playing before bedtime... when we told her it was time for bed, she resisted a bit, and after we came back downstairs we found that she had decided if she had to go to bed, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, sheep, kings, and animals all had to go to bed too!

My dad's love of the nativity branched into a Candle Creche that was a special part of the Christmas Eve service at church. He read the scriptures as the candles were lit (often my brother Jon was the candle lighter) and then as they were extinguished, all except the Baby Jesus candle which remained lit symbolizing how Christ lives in our hearts.

The love of the Nativity, Candlelit "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve, singing the carols, Baby Jesus' Birthday cake, special Christmas books and movies... all are traditions I have cherished and kept alive in my own family. I am so thankful to my dad for instilling this love in me.

I have both dreaded and anticipated this Christmas. This morning when I awoke, I decided that I choose to celebrate with Joy...and allow the tears to come when they will. I can only imagine what a wonderful celebration there is in Heaven at the memory of Christ's birth, and my precious dad is experiencing it first hand this year. I rejoice in that, and will celebrate the traditions I learned from my parents and have passed on to my children. There are memories to be cherished, and new ones to be made.