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Traditions For Every Family

One of my favorite movies, plays, is Fiddler On The Roof.  The song “Tradition” is a well known and loved song from that script.  As I write this post I am singing that tune in my head.

Most families have some sort of family tradition whether its a movie night once a month or a trip to the beach every year.  Many of the most memorable family traditions surround the holidays like expressing what you are thankful for while everyone sits around the table at Thanksgiving, or decorating the Christmas tree together while singing your favorite carols.

Some traditions are common for many families and some traditions are very unique to individual families.  The fun thing about family traditions is that they are special and create long lasting memories for the family as a whole.  Often times children will pass down their favorite family traditions to their own families in order to maintain those nostalgic memories.

I have a very young family still.  My husband and I are coming upon our sixth year wedding anniversary, and we have three children, about to be four all under the age of five.  We have found that family traditions have been difficult to establish for us with having such small children.  Much of what we do tends to be my husband and I doing it, with the kids showing a little interest, but mostly just getting distracted.  It has been difficult, but we try to do it anyway.

The Purpose of Traditions

I read a book a couple of years ago called Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper.  Noel approaches the idea of family traditions in this book in a very different and purposeful way that I had not experienced before.  She emphasizes that traditions should be about teaching our children the Person and things of God.  For instance, in her chapter on “How Do Traditions Teach?,” she says,

“We are always teaching our children, whether we mean to or not.  Our children come to believe, probably unconsciously, that whatever is repeated regularly has significance.  It was God’s design that learning happen by frequent and regular repetition.  That kind of learning was part of what He had in mind when He told his people to teach the children his words, ‘talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise’ (Deuteronomy 11:19) – note how frequently and regularly.

One indication of God’s wisdom in this command is that when our activities are filled with God, we have to be thinking about God; so our normal activities are helping us fulfill God’s command to ‘lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul’ (Deuteronomy 11:18).  Another sign of God’s wisdom is that, with enough repetition, the very activities, no matter how mundane they are, will trigger thoughts of God in our minds.” (Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper, pp.34-35)

When we are purposeful in our tradition making by our planning and consistency then our children will take notice and the lessons therein will sink into their hearts and minds hopefully for the rest of their lives.  As parents, we are to follow God’s commands, as the Spirit fulfills God’s purposes through us.

Traditions During The Holidays

I am not advocating that every tradition we make must have a serious theme.  There are silly traditions and there are serious traditions.  The holidays seem to be an easier time to build traditions around, especially ones that teach lessons concerning God’s Word.

For Christmas this year, my husband and I are beginning the tradition of practicing Advent.  I just purchased a copy of Truth In The Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands to begin with my children.  This book includes 24 lessons and companion crafts centered around teaching the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  I am looking forward to making this a family tradition throughout the years.

This previous year I was introduced to Resurrection Eggs as a way of teaching the TRUE meaning of Easter to young hearts.  There are many companion books to choose from also for Resurrection Eggs.  It is so important that we teach our children the Gospel message at Easter, that Jesus died and rose again to offer us salvation from our sins.

The Thanksgiving holiday just ended, but I found it to be such a delight to speak with my children about the discipline of being thankful.  It also reminded me how being thankful and counting the many blessing that God has bestowed upon our family should not just be something done one time a year but all year round.

Traditions Year Round

Holidays seem to be an easy time to come up with spiritual lessons to guide our children in.  However, as Christian parents, we are commanded to teach our children daily about the Person and things of Christ.

As a family we practice family devotions, or as we call it Family Worship.  Family Worship is a time during the day, at least once a day, where the entire family sits down to sing songs of praise to God and to read His Word and pray together.  This does not have to be fancy or majorly structured.  It may be awkward at first if you are not used to singing in front of one another or praying together, but it does become easier.  Practicing Family Worship regularly provides many wonderful opportunities:

1.) Family Worship will teach your children that God is a priority in your home.  That He will be worshiped and His Word will be read and honored in your home.  This is a very important lesson for every child no matter the age.

2.) Family Worship is a perfect opportunity to begin teaching and showing your children how to pray.  When they are young allow them to repeat a prayer after you or prompt them as to how they ought to pray.  When they are older allow each child to pray for their own concerns and for the whole family separately.

3.) Family Worship is a great opportunity to check in with each member of your family.  Have discussions about spiritual thoughts and needs.  Keep each other accountable.

4.) Family Worship is a teaching time.  Provide a discussion time that children can come to you with spiritual questions and you can seek God’s Word together to answer that question.

Traditions: Encouraging Our Children Unto the Lord

When we establish family traditions  that point to Christ whether it be movie nights, craft days, family devotions, or special holiday traditions we are encouraging our children unto salvation in the Lord.

Every parent desires that their children be happy and intelligent, but as Christian parents, our main desire should be that our children grow to glorify their Creator and to live lives in discipleship to Him.  Our most blessed responsibility as a parent is the spiritual education of our children.  When we establish family traditions and look for ways to instill God’s Word in their hearts we are blessing their souls more than we could ever imagine.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Family Traditions?