Passing Along Our Tradition!

It was a day or two before Thanksgiving that our oldest granddaughter, Chloe, popped the question, "Poppi, when are you decorating your Christmas tree?" This grand is always jazzed about Christmas! Each year, since she was a little girl, Chloe Michelle has helped her Mimi and me with Christmas decorating. If you knew that she already had her room decorations up on November 1st, you can imagine that she was more than a little anxious to help her grandparents "catch up" to the Christmas Season!

Inspecting Charlie's Gingerbread House!
I am a stickler about not putting up our decorations until Thanksgiving Day is over. Although I enjoy the ambience of a well-decorated family room with a beautifully lighted tree adorned with keepsake ornaments, garlands and red bows above the entry ways, and greenery threaded with red stringed beads on the mantle, I don't like to hurry into Christmas! So, Friday or Saturday after "Turkey Day" is soon enough for me! It was agreed that this year, Friday would be our day to get things moving into the Christmas season!

Now that we are getting older, I am beginning to hear family members making similar and delicately-worded requests like, “Poppi, (or Mimi), when the time comes, I’d like…” and they mention things like a particular ornament, a Nativity scene, a special table decoration, or my beloved collection of Texas State Capitol uniquely-crafted ornaments!

This year, it was Chloe who mentioned the angel ornaments that Mamé, Monique’s mother, gave to each of our four children back in the day. These handmade, little European-dressed dolls play a prominent role in our annual tree decorating. I can imagine that Chloe would treasure having the one that has her mother’s name, Michelle, perfectly printed and dated, 1982, by her late great grandmother on the back of it.

Ornaments can be generic, store-bought globes or they can be specially crafted and given to remind us of loved ones who have passed on. The latter is the case with many of our Christmas decorations. Our son, Marc, has spoken about his interest in a set of wooden, hand-crafted Bible figures that represent those who came to visit baby Jesus in Bethlehem long ago. Roy and Louise Williams, beloved friends from our days in Houston, gave us these cherished pieces of Roy’s woodwork years ago.

Memories and traditions abound in many of our Christmas celebrations! We have the opportunity and responsibility to pass these along to our children and grandchildren. Some of these will be tangible. We will hand these ornaments, figures, and decorations along to the next generation in our families with the hope that they will continue to be a reminder of our gatherings long after we have passed. That is the blessing of family!

There are many reasons why we have rituals and traditions in the community of faith. These are reminders and incentives to worship and not forget God's goodness. The Psalmist reminds us to be mindful of all God has done. "Our Lord, I will remember the things you have done, your miracles of long ago. I will think about each one of your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11-12, CEV).

Advent is one special time to remember what this season truly represents in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Last Sunday, we delighted to light the peace candle on our church Advent wreath and celebrated Holy Communion at the conclusion of the worship service. In the afternoon, we gathered once again to enjoy a Christmas musical by the children and youth of our church,

Next Lord’s Day, our Sanctuary Choir will present the annual cantata with handbells and full orchestra. These are the traditions that help us hold in our memories all that the Coming of Christ means for believers and the world! Let’s pass these traditions on until Christ comes again!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 9, 2025 at 11:17 AM

    I too do not wish to rush into the Christmas season without giving the turkey his day.
    With the busy schedules of our modern lives we’ve transitioned into a more drawn out preparation for Christmas. We still have our traditions and take time to recount the milestones of our life through the many special ornaments and customs of years past.
    With family scattered all across the country, it is sometimes difficult to share these cherished traditions together. Like this year. We will have to journey to find Christmas, like the Three Kings of long ago we will seek out the true meaning of Christmas. I know it will be found in family and in Christ. Merry Christmas! Bruce

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