CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?
Sherrill and I have a family tradition: We celebrate Christmas Eve in the church candlelight service with our church family, and then we drive the 400 miles through the night from Baker to the Willamette Valley to celebrate Christmas day with our children. It's a long drive, and sometimes we have to battle bad weather, but it is worth it to be able to gather with our children and grandchildren.

But it wasn't always that way. Sherrill and I can remember when our four children were still living at home, and much younger. Our tradition in those days was to wake up Christmas morning, still in our pajamas and bathrobes, and open our gifts together just the six of us. The kids would come out of their bedrooms excited, bouncing about the house, waking Sherrill and I up so they didn't have to wait any longer.

But before we would open any gifts, our tradition was to read passages of the Christmas story from the Bible. As the kids got older they would read the passages themselves, we would then pray and thank God for the most precious gift...Jesus, and for the gift of salvation, and then we would slowly and patiently take turns opening one gift at a time.

It was a precious and cherished time. It was family time, and it was time spent recognizing that this is truly a day to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we had lots of meals and extended family dinners planned. We had lots of running around to do to see everyone we could. But for that morning, it was reserved for our immediate family, to slow down, express our love for one another through the giving and receiving of gifts. But most of all to start it all off with a recognition of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you have any Christmas tradtions? I hope you do. For many it all starts off with a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. That is what we have established here at Baker City Christian Church, and I know for many families that is their tradition, to come to candlelight service, and then go home and gather with family.

Sometimes tradition is looked upon as being a negative thing. And it can be if it takes away from the joy of celebration. But tradition can be a good thing, when it develops deep seated memories of a special message, and cherished thoughts of God and family.

Life on this earth is not about things: "how many gifts did I get, how expensive were they, did I get JUST what I wanted." No... life on this earth is not about money, possessions, and things; it is about our relationships with one another, and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second it like it; 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).

There you have it. The most important thing, and the greatest gift you can give this Christmas is your love; love for God and love for those around you. It is those relationships that make a difference. In years to come the most cherished memories of Christmas will NOT be what gifts you got for Christmas, no, the most cherished memories will be the time spent together as family; your biological family, and your church family, and worship of the Savior.

Start building those special Christmas traditions in your family and you will leave a legacy that will carry on for generations to come.

Love you all
Roger