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| Sunshine with Santa, circa 2010 |
Last week after church, we pulled into our neighborhood's clubhouse parking lot to meet Santa and enjoy some hot cocoa and cookies, a tradition we've done since the kids were infants.
But this year, Santa was scheduled to arrive about an hour after his usual time.
Hungry for lunch, we decided to head home (a mere three-minute drive down the street) to eat lunch and change out of our church clothes.
After we'd eaten and dishes were cleaned up, we asked the kids if they wanted to go back out to see Santa.
The tween had no interest.
The middle child didn't want to talk to a "fake" Santa. He'd rather mail his wishlist to Santa and talk about his requests to Scout, our Elf on the Shelf.
Our youngest confessed to still being too shy to sit on Santa's lap.
So, we stayed home, and about an hour later, cozied up under some afghans and watched large powdery snowflakes cover the backyard (the beginnings of 5 inches of snowfall for our area!).
It was sort of strange for me, I confess.
No meeting Santa this year?
No photo opportunity?
But then, I was softly reminded in my spirit that traditions are just that: Traditions.
They point to a greater reality: providing time together as family to make a memory, to enjoy and marvel and experience the true meaning of Christmas.
Traditions are not to-dos to check off a list.
They don't make or break the holiday.
They serve us--we don't have to serve them.
So, dear friend, may I ask what traditions you may need to change up, let go of, or embrace that will better serve you and your family, in THIS season of your lives?
I hope years from now, if I happen to notice that our family scrapbooks and photo albums are devoid of pictures with Santa in 2018, I want to smile.
That was the year we chose what was right for our family.
That was the year we had our traditions serve us, and we were not a slave to them!
And I trust that we--you and I--will experience a bit more peace, and a bit more joy, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas this year, in the way that is best for us, right here, and right now.
Blessings for Advent, dear one!
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