Seasonal Change
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:Ecclesiastes 3:1
The nine-hour drive to spend Thanksgiving with my husband's sister was now proving to be too much. While the children were younger, it was an adventure, but as the years have passed, and my oldest two sons have married to start families of their own, I realized that things needed to change.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have a quiet holiday celebration with just our family?" I suggested to my husband, "I don't feel right traveling away from our married children when the holidays should be spent together."
My husband agreed, also realizing that it was no longer feasible for us to travel on the holidays. Identical feelings gave us both peace in the new decision. My husband's only concern was in how to tell his sister.
Traditions are a good thing. They make life-long memories and create strong family bonds. But what was once good for one season of life may not necessarily be appropriate for the next. While some traditions can last a life-time, others may need to be tweaked, as ages and circumstances change.
When we first initiated our Thanksgiving trip, it was to help my sister-in-law cope with the holidays after the death of her husband. My middle sons were the same ages as her young sons, and the increased activity did wonders for their emotional support. But the children are growing, and these boys are now teenagers. They are forging paths of their own. Just as my family needs to establish a new "traditional" foundation, so do they.
Change is sometimes hard, but often necessary. As long as our motives are pure, God will bless.
Prayer: I thank you, Lord, for the gift of family. I pray for Your wisdom in how to strengthen the bonds. Help me to know when a tradition or routine needs to be altered, so I can reap the greatest benefit for those under my care.
