Tradition!

Those of us here in Utah Valley woke up to a white world. It snowed last night covering trees, bushes, dirt, roads, cars, and rooftops with beautiful white snow. I love the first snow. I love it so much that years ago I started a tradition in the family that when the first snow that sticks to the ground falls I make cinnamon rolls. So guess what I'll be doing today? I can't wait.

Traditions are wonderful. Look at these definitions of the word tradition. (1) The handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. (2) cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions. Traditions are powerful ways to teach and to instill joy in your family. They give children (and me!) things to look forward to and anticipate. In short, traditions are wonderful.

We are coming into the holiday season when everyone has holiday traditions, but I'm curious. What traditions do you have that aren't part of a holiday? Leave a comment and share with us.

The Power of Traditions

Picture by Christopher Talbot Frank //www.allposters.com/

Just yesterday I was walking on a newly laid carpet of autumn leaves. This morning the ground was covered with snow. Usually by the first snow the trees are barren, the leaves have blown away, and the snow rests on skeletal branches. But this morning with trees still full of golden leaves the snow on the branches was thick and bent the branches low as if they were bowing to their king.

Snow fell softly the whole three miles and the morning shone brighter than usual because the approaching dawn reflected off the fallen snow. In short the morning walk was absolutely magical.

I love the first snow of the season. That’s why decades ago I started a family tradition that on the day when the first snow occurs that sticks to the ground I make cinnamon rolls for the family. Years ago all my children’s friends caught on to the tradition and showed up at my house on the first snow. I loved it and I miss them. This year the only child I have in town is my son, but he’s already talked to me to ask when the cinnamon rolls will be coming out of the over. Since I teach today, it won’t be until evening, but he’ll be there—I am assured of that.

I wish more of the family were here to enjoy the tradition tonight. But despite the fact that most of them live far away I know that when it snows wherever they are they will think of me and cinnamon rolls and the great times we had around the kitchen table laughing and celebrating not the snow, but family and friends.

The Power of Tradition

Yesterday D1 shared a story with me that I want to pass on. For years they have awakened their family at 6:00 in the morning for family prayer. It is so much a tradition that it is habit.

Well, awhile back D1 was awakened at 3:00 in the morning by a sick child. Again, over the years, the “tradition” has evolved that when this happens she takes care of the sick child, washing him up, getting him something for the sick tummy, etc. while her husband takes care of cleaning up the soiled bedding. So when she was awakened she began to care for the sick boy and called to her husband to take care of the bedroom. She finished helping her son but when she took him back to bed there was no sign of SIL1 (son-in-law 1) so she stripped the bed and did what needed to be done all the time wondering where her husband was.

Finally she got her son in bed and went back to her bedroom, thinking her husband must not have gotten up. But SIL1 was not in bed. She began searching through the house and finally found him in the living room, kneeling at the couch. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Didn’t you call me to get up for prayer?” he replied.

She was laughing so hard she had a hard time going back to sleep. But the story has a great message about the power of habit and tradition in our lives. Too often we only think and talk about breaking bad habits, but good habits can direct our lives and the lives of our children in wonderful ways.