Traditions express love and mutual support among one another. -Charles Dickens
I found that quote while reading a book about how Charles Dickens drew greatly from the powerful memories of his past to write A Christmas Carol.
Memories are powerful, whether happy or sad, which will impact how one views holidays, especially Christmas.
Exemplifiying this are two lovely authors of a great book by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson many years ago, when my kids were little: Let’s Make a Memory.
HAPPY MEMORIES
For Gloria, of musical fame with her husband Bill, the memories are wonderful, due to her: gift of a rich childhood and youth in a solid, loving, celebrating home. The heritage of a family who loved God and each other, who greeted every new day with anticipation and openness, shaped my values and taught me that life was good. The healthy balance of discipline and freedom, the love of simple things, the respect for all kinds of persons, a deep reverence for God – all these were wrapped up in special moments and given to me in the package I call my childhood.
SAD MEMORIES REDEEMED
However, for others, the memories are painful, as in the case of Shirley who recalls: the indescribable yearning of a child who knew that something vital was missing from her life. I was the daughter of a confirmed alcoholic. Only those who have lived through this nightmare will understand the full implication of this experience.
After falling in love with James Dobson in their college years, he committed to giving her better than she knew as a child, of which she confirms: He has constructed my self-esteem as though he were a brick mason building a fortress. He convinced me that I’m a worthy person…that his love for me is unconditional, and that God has a place for me in His grand scheme for the universe.
Shirley continues: My early home, by necessity, had no traditions whatsoever…but when I married into the Dobson family, I saw the glorious meaning of loving interdependency throughout the year. The Dobsons are a proud southern family that is steeped in tradition.
VALUE OF TRADITIONS
James Dobson, the renowned child psychologist and family advocate says: The great value of traditions comes as they give a family a sense of identity, a belongingness. All of us desperately need to feel that we’re not just a cluster of people living together in a house, but we’re a family that’s conscious of its uniqueness, its personality, character and heritage, and that our special relationships of love and companionship make us a unit with identity and personality.
Thankfully, many of my childhood memories are cozy and warm-hearted, causing me to recreate them every year…even through the most dire year my kids and I ever faced.
Along with our love and support of each other and our faith in Jesus, holidays bore sweeatness as we returned to the comfort of tradition, of which I blogged about that year for my Mother’s Day, for our Independence Day, for Christmas that year and a week later on New Years Eve.
MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES REFLECTED IN MY HOME
I’ve learned over the years, due to December becoming crazy busy, that I will rest more and enjoy the peace of Christmas by doing the decorating during the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Growing up, we decorated with my mom’s Christmas village and ornaments from her childhood, set amidst a train running underneath the tree…one of many traditions I carried on to my kids when they were little.
Every time I stumble upon 1940s frosted ornaments that remind me of my mom’s, I excitedly buy some.
I just love these swirly ornament hooks I found!
A friend gifted me this lovely chintz teacup in honor of my blog.
After losing my collection of crystal-like angels, I was elated to find this one!
My friend who gifted me the teacup also started me on a White House Ornament collection, in honor of all the history that I blog about!
This one represents President Grover Cleveland, who while serving his term as president, fell in love and married his sweetheart in the Blue Room amidst orange blossoms…all represented on the ornament.
Since then, I’ve been adding to the collection, which my kids and I have enjoyed, because each year is a new surprise with beautiful craftsmanship.
I fell for this elegant reindeer a few years ago!
When my hubby presented me the remnants of an old wreath of his, I breathed beauty into it. I now love it!
NATIVITY SCENE
Of all the fun decor, the most important to me is the nativity scene, which reflects the Reason for the Season.
In typical San Antonio style, my hometown, I use natural elements to create an outdoor look for the creche, which is part of the traditions that hail from Mexico.
ADVENT CANDLES
Around the nativity are the advent candles, of which we light one per week, starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Each night I use a wonderful old book that I purchased when my kids were little, which my daughter kept, my son bought his own copy, and this year I bought one for me:
Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration with writings from James C. Dobson, Charles R. Swindoll, James Montgomery Boice, and RC Sproul is filled with readings, discussion guides for wee children, beloved hymns, and Scriptures to read each night reminding us of the promises for a Savior throughout the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi. Then verses from the beginning of the New Testament tells the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph…up through to the birth of our Lord and Savior.
So beautiful that as I read each day, my heart is prepared for the true meaning of Christmas.
Even though my kids now have families of their own, and my husband is often late at work or out of town, I can still enjoy the peace and beauty of Christmas lights and promises from Scripture, followed by a beautiful carol pronoucing our Savior’s birth.
When the rat race becomes grim, these verses bring peace into my heart.
FIRST NIGHT OF ADVENT
This year the first night of Advent fell on the very night my kids and their families joined us for a late Thanksgiving celebration.
That evening I asked if they’d like to join us in Advent, so my grandbabies snuggled deeply between their parents while my hubby turned off all the lights while we talked about what darkness feels like…an easy question for my five year old granddaughter to answer.
Next my hubby turned on the Christmas lights only so we could compare the difference, again an easy topic for my oldest granddaughter to discuss.
Then we lit the first candle of Advent while I began the week’s reading from James Dobson, while led to a discussion about our favorite Christmas traditions, which my kids and their spouses jumped into with all their favorites. So fun!
After that we closed with Silent Night, an easy carol for the grandchildren to sing.
So beautiful and meaningful…
FRUIT CAKE – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!
We capped Christmas night with the grandchildren excitedly blowing out the candle on the fruitcake, after singing Happy Birthday to Jesus…a tradition my brother and I began in our childhood and my kids carried on.
Also a tradition from my childhood is this totally moist and yummy fruitcake from my mom’s cookbook that must have been her mom’s since it’s from the 1940s!
Possibly my kids’ favorite Christmas present from me is when I pack up some fruitcake for them to enjoy at home!
