Traditions

Traditions help us with transitions!

Yup ... that's me ... with Grandpa.

Many moons ago 

My guess is about 50 years ago.

Wearing a dress that Grandpa bought

He bought me one every year for Christmas.

The doll?  I still have her

She "lives" in the cedar chest in my basement.

And is played with on occasion by Meghan and Faye.

Back to Christmas Eve.

Every year at 83 Dudley Avenue

From 1956 - 2000

The family would gather for Swedish Smorgasbord

Herring, meatballs, cheese, meats, rice pudding, eggs, salad, etc.

Following dinner the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 

Then there would be music

Whatever grandchild was taking lessons would play

Finally the presents.

Always something from my grandparents

And that was the night that we got new pajamas.

Fast forward to 2008

The family will gather at my brothers.

Much will remain the same

Swedish smorgasbord

Now we have added salmon to the mix

I have responsibility for the rice pudding

No music any more :(

The Christmas story will be read

The $5 gift exchange will begin

There will be the normal conversation

How many times you can "steal" a gift and how many times a gift can be "stolen".

A strange new tradition.

But we have our transitional object ... the Bible 

The story of the birth of Jesus

The Bible has been the one main constant

"The grass withers the flower fades 

but the word of the Lord is forever"

Shhh ... don't tell anybody 

Tomorrow ... the baby will be born!

The pleading words of Advent will turn into the upbeat pace of Joy to the World

We can really say Merry Christmas

It is the beginning of the journey of wise men (and women)

But the best news of all

The baby

That Mary had cared for

That Joseph ensured a warm place for the birth

The baby ... his name will be Jesus

God made flesh