Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Family traditions. We all have them. Some we treasure, some we abhor, but we all have them.
Christmas Eve. What memories does that bring to mind?
Christmas Eve was one of our family traditions that I treasure. Each year my maternal grandmother would come spend the holiday with us. We would spend the day tending to the last minute preparations for the Christmas meal, wrapping presents and trying our best to stay out of trouble (more difficult for some).
Late afternoon meant getting ready to go to church for the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. We would then return home for family time which included reading the Christmas story from Luke and opening one gift of our choice from under the tree. I remember the scripture reading vividly. It was a rite of passage. I’m the last of five children. I had to wait my turn. I had to learn to read first (small technicality). But the year my mother told me it was my year, I was so excited. I practiced reading out loud. The anticipation was tangible. When the time came, I remember sitting proudly in the center of the room and reading with confidence and grinning from ear to ear.
And so it should be with Advent. Are we just going through the motions or do prepare ourselves in such a way that our anticipation is tangible? Are we more worried about what gift we give to each person on our list than preparing ourselves to celebrate the best gift we have ever been given? Do we get caught up in the hustle and bustle rather than looking for ways to share the joy of Christmas with others?
What can we do to become better prepared, to share the joy of Christmas with others? This Advent devotion is one way – taking time to study The Word and reflect on the birth of Christ. Sharing the joy can be as simple as smiling at every person we encounter or letting a car through in traffic. It doesn’t have to be a big production – it can be an everyday thing that brings joy to our hearts. Like a favorite family tradition.
Betsy Guy, Faith Class
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