Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

Traditions for good or not-so-good

12.11.2019
|
Daily Grace

I think of harmful traditions around the Christmas season such as focusing too much on the shopping and the busyness, and less on the time of waiting and building community in Christ.

I am guilty of finding myself caught up in the whirlwind of gifts, parties and ugly Christmas sweaters and less on the reason people are coming together to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Each year, I try to create or add to a Christmas tradition that will bring me closer to God. Instead of filling my evenings with holiday parties, I try to attend my church’s weekly Advent service. I’ve taken time from shopping and creating the perfect Christmas wish list to host a day of play for the children at my church to learn about the season of waiting.

It’s still a work in progress, but taking time to distance myself from traditions that distract me from Jesus makes me more calm, rooted and intentional during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

This message is adapted from “Traditions to break and create” by SommerAnn McCullough in the November 2018 issue of Café magazine.

Do you enjoy these free Daily Grace messages? If so, donate now to further the ministry. Use the “where needed most” line.

Share this post

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.