Our families are part of what defines us. We recognize that family doesn’t just include blood relatives, rather our family can be friends that are with us, through the good times and the bad. They are people that we adopt into our hearts because they have earned our trust, respect, and love.
Over the years, the ties that hold us together involve various traditions, rituals, perhaps, that collect our family members together and have meaning to those members that wave a flag over our heads and say, “This is what we stand for. This is what makes us who we are.” These are the special things that draw us together, keep us together, and allow us to hand down from generation to generation the things that are special and meaningful.
Our society has gotten away from the practice of traditions, but these are certainly the reason behind gang initiations, and the breakdown of the family unit. When family has lost its meaning, young people will seek out other sources for identity, meaning in life, and cohesion with like-minded individuals. Each generation needs that reason to be special, and traditions are what make each of us special.
It doesn’t matter what your tradition is. It may be a particular way of celebrating birthdays; a trip to some memorable location each year; the collection of a new, dated ornament for a holiday tree each year, or any special day set aside to do something special with family members that can be looked forward to all year long. Some traditions are associated with holidays, some are random, but all are special and when they are approached with reverence and sincerity, they bring young family members into the fold, rather than leaving them without a solid foundation to stand on.
May you be richly blessed.
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