Holiday Traditions

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? For many this may include putting up a tree, decorating the house, gift shopping/giving, listening to holiday music, hosting/attending holiday parties, baking, watching parades and holiday movies. I enjoy all the above. The holiday movies can be particularly helpful for getting you into the holiday spirit!

The older movies help me to reflect on the cherished memories of Christmas past. The newer ones with its cheery story lines, extravagant decorations and snowy wintery scenes celebrate the wonderland beauty of the holiday. As I watch these movies, I am reminded of the fact that I once lived on Hallmark Street as a child. Hallmark, known for its delightful holiday movies, is a name synonymous with the joy and beauty of the holiday spirit! Although at the time my street didn’t have that name. It was just a simple country muddy road, probably called route 5. There were not always cheery stories happening on this road for my family. There was no extravagant Christmas decorations and no beautiful wintery scenes. But, in later years the name of my muddy road has been changed to Hallmark Street! Although this road is still a muddy mess, its new name paints a vision of joy, beauty and a delightful holiday spirit! I guess you could say God has a sense of humor!

As we celebrate this Christmas season, let us be reminded that Christmas is more than a holiday tradition. It is more than cheery movies, extravagant decorations, beautiful wintery scenes or street names! It is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”, Isaiah 9:16.

As Christians, we were once a muddy mess like that muddy road! But because God so loved the world, He sent His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16. God’s hallmark for us is more than a beautiful Christmas tradition! His desire for us is a transformed life that includes joy, peace and a delightful Spirit!