While I was growing up my immediate family didn't have many traditions. This was hard on a sentimental girl like me. I love to be a part of something that has existed for years and years. It means you belong. I'm talking about the kind of belonging in which you just belong because you were there at the time, took part in a piece of someone else's life and heritage. I am not talking about insecurity, rituals or hazing.
My mom did not bring any traditions to her marriage. I think her side of the family considers still being alive a tradition. "Hey great to see you! You're still alive, thanks for keeping up the tradition."
My father came from a family with immense heritage and traditions. He left all of it after high school, and struck out to be his own man. Going back each Christmas to his parents home may have only strengthened his resolve to separate himself from a heritage he had come to disdain.
My family didn't celebrate holidays, they were usually just another day, in which we took advantage of extra food and parades. I hated the days in school when the teacher would ask us to write a paper on what the given holiday meant to us. I was a good student, I loved to write, but these essays gave me severe writers block.
When I married Dear Man, and we had children of our own, I set out to create traditions. While we were in the military we would invite single sailors to our house for Thanksgiving. I remember several of these young men to this day, and pray their lives are filled with Jesus. After we left the military it was harder to find single men who were no where near family, so that tradition was dropped, but I still keep my eyes open.
Thanksgiving is special to me now because it began to have meaning in the giving to others. Which I think is where most traditions begin, at least the good ones. In all the traditions I have been invited to take part in, they have been about giving and sharing.
This Thanksgiving be sure to share Jesus with someone. Give them a chance to be part of a heritage that will last through eterenity.
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I really like your post, if we share Jesus with just one person this Thanksgiving, that is the important thing! Thanks for the reminder and putting my heart back in the right place!