We have an insatiable appetite for the new and improved.
A company no longer makes its money on one tried and true product. If they don’t have a new product, flavor or packaging they fall behind the pack.
We demand more as consumers, they provide more.
The same is true at Christmas. New decorations. New music. New stories. New traditions.
New is not all bad. After all, Jesus makes us new when we put our trust in Him. When something breaks, it’s a good thing we can go find a new one at the store. It’s fun hanging new ornaments on the tree or trying a new recipe.
Hurtful traditions need to be exchanged for something better.
However, Christmas traditions of sight, touch, smell, taste and sound can get me in the Christmas spirit quicker than any new idea or song out there. Without them, I feel lost. Untethered. Like I’m missing out.
Traditions –or habits—keep us tethered in marriage as well. Whether it’s during the busyness of a season (holiday or otherwise), the stress of a loss, a move, or the daily stress from within the marriage. Traditions can keep us tethered to our spouses in love and faithfulness.
Little things like setting aside time to talk, having a cup of coffee together. Getting out of the house(away from the demands), being involved in what our spouse enjoys, bragging about our loved one or sending notes to each other.
At times when the stress is more serious (major hurts and offenses) and needs more attention than the simple traditions mentioned above, traditions in our relationship with God can keep us tethered to His will in the situation and to the hope that He holds for us.
Traditions of time in the word, prayer, praise and forgiveness are a good place to start.
What traditions in your marriage help you stay tethered to faithfulness in your relationship?
Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net/Ambro
