TRADITION!

“And while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave  birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths, and placed
 him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2: 6-7 (NIV)

Some two thousand years ago in the town of Bethlehem a child was born marking for Christians the beginning of Christmas.  Angels sang, shepherds gathered, wise men came and three Kings followed a star to bring gifts to this child. Christian tradition began with the birth of Jesus.
A text message recently arrived on my cell phone from my granddaughters’ with a picture of Christmas ornaments they had hung on their tree. They were my mother’s ornaments, their great grandmothers, the same ones I had hung as a child on my family Christmas tree.
More pictures arrive of another granddaughter setting out a manger scene I had made many years ago, then another of a grandson hanging a Christmas bulb that had been hung by their mother on our family trees years ago. These ornaments hung by different family members in homes miles apart represent continuity of generations. Tradition!
Each year my children’s homes display Christmas items which were a part of their childhood, sharing with their own children the magic of their Christmases past. From a distance, I reminisce about those years gone by, remembering the excitement of the nights we would gather to open the boxes and lay out our ornaments. As little children they would shout with glee as they unwrapped each ornament. As teenagers, an ornament made as a child would awaken a memory of when it was made. As young adults, they would say, “ I can’t believe you saved this”.
Even though we are no longer together on Christmas day, we are connected by those ornaments and the memories that unite us. Tradition!
Some will argue that we have forgotten “ the reason for the season”. Sadly, in many cases this is true. Many have chosen not to celebrate the birth of Jesus, instead choosing to focus on non-religious elements added throughout the years. In a Seinfeld episode George declares it should be called “festivus day”. A secular holiday with the slogan  “Festivus for the rest of us”.
But let us take solace in this; however families chose to celebrate the Christmas season, families will gather and traditions will take place. People will travel from afar, homes will be decorated, gifts will be given, songs will be sung, and baby Jesus will be placed in the manger.
Sound familiar? Angels sang, shepherds gathered, wise men traveled and three Kings brought gifts, all to celebrate the birth of our Lord.
And tradition began those many years ago.