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.
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