Family Christmas

Christmas Traditions: some are better than others.

My children and I bake cookies together in the days leading up to Christmas. We bake the same types each year and it’s an all-day event. Chocolate Mint. Magic Cookie Bars. Cinn-a-Spin. Of course we have to make sure they taste good enough to serve to our Christmas guests. This is a tradition they love.

Last year, I attempted to begin a new tradition with our family. I purchased a beautifully written and illustrated book by a fairly popular Christian author. The idea is that one is supposed to dedicate a particular tree and add specific ornaments that coincide with a devotional reading on each day leading up to Christmas. Each devotional reading is no less than 45 pages long. Well, maybe not that long, but it feels like it. The first day of reading was met by blank stares and a smirk (from one particular family member to remain unnamed.) The next day, the reading was met with groans and sighs. On the third day, the complaints were more vocal.  Then the particular “smirking” family member decided to make up a stupid song to go along with the long, dry reading. This resulted in a slight overreaction:  the slamming of the book, angry tears and declarations of “I just wanted to create a nice family tradition!”  I won’t tell you who said and did any of those things. I’ll let you figure it out. And needless to say, we scrapped that particular tradition. The book looks lovely as part of our coffee table Holiday décor, but remains unopened this year.

Again, some traditions are better than others.

For example, this past Sunday, we participated in one of my favorite Christmas traditions! We celebrated some very special people during our annual Family Christmas service. Each year, several individuals, couples or families are “surprised” as the church honors them for living daily lives exemplary of the Christmas Story.

What I love about those honored in these services is the way I see each and every one of them leap off of the pages of Scripture as I read the Bible.

 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “ Philippians 3:14

As we discuss the stories of individuals and begin making plans in the weeks and months leading up to Family Christmas each year, I am inspired by the way these people continually “press toward the goal.” In spite of often immeasurable odds, they are relentless in the pursuit of what God has called them to.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of other to be seen by them…” Matthew 6:1a

When a name is called and the person sits momentarily frozen in his or her seat and then walks on stage in disbelief, it is never more obvious to me that their righteous acts were done all for the love of Jesus and not for their own glory.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13

While I feel that the entire chapter of Romans 12 is a very succinct summary of what the Christian’s life should look like (or what we should be striving to look like), those three verses can be accurately used to describe the “spirit of those honored at Family Christmas.”

I continue to consider it a profound honor and privilege to serve and live my life among the most amazing people on Earth – the friends and family of Freedom Christian: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:3-4a.

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant