Tradition Breaker

Traditions. My family is steeped in them, especially around Christmas. Some of the traditions have changed over the years for various reasons, but for the most part my family loves traditions. Our saying is “If we do something more than twice then it is a tradition.”  

One of my favorite traditions that we no longer do since we moved from Chicago was our special day downtown Chicago. We would go to the Walnut Room in Marshall Field’s- now Macy’s (another reason we would have stopped going regardless of moving) - for dinner.  We would get the Field’s Special and Frango Mint pie with Eggnog in a Mr. Mistletoe keepsake mug. My mom would also pack away the mugs for my sister and I to have. Part of the tradition was to dress in matching/coordinating outfits to take our picture in front of the five story high Christmas tree in the Walnut Room. While we waited for our table we would go pick out an ornament for the year, which my mom would also pack away for the day I had my own Christmas tree. We would go see the windows that would tell some story every year, such as “Peter Pan” or “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” It was so magical! I still miss that set apart day for the family to just enjoy the specialness of Christmas with no pressures of presents or stress of extended family moments. My family still does wear matching/coordinating outfits at Christmas and pick out ornaments but just no Walnut Room or Marshall Field’s windows, mugs, or Frango Mint pie. 

Another tradition I love is caroling on Christmas Eve night after the candlelight service. We sing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and give the people some of our homemade cookies. Usually we have to convince my grandmother to go with us and my grandfather does not really sing unless it is “How Great Thou Art” or to his great granddaughter.  Part of the fun is convincing them to go, especially since we carol to their friends. For years we have been singing to this one lady and were part of her first Christmas without her husband. I remember her tears and her gratitude as we kept the tradition up even as her traditions had been ripped apart. Such an amazing blessing to be part of new and old memories. Traditions can be a beautiful part of life. 

Why talk about traditions? Well, because as Christmas approaches I am reminded how the birth of Jesus Christ broke traditions held for centuries. Not just at His birth, but throughout His life and even more so after His death. Jesus did the unexpected. He still kept to His Jewish heritage, but added so much to the relationship people had with God.  For years priests were the only ones allowed to talk to God, they functioned as mediators of God's presence and offered sacrifices on behalf of the people for their sins. After the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross – our great High Priest – no other sacrifice is needed, and when Jesus came, and after Jesus’ death, no longer did people have to use a priest to talk to God. Jesus made God accessible to everyone.

 Do not get me wrong, Jesus still very much confirmed the Old Testament as necessary. As in Matthew 5:17 Jesus states “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  Yet, Jesus changed the approach to God. No longer was God just a fire cloud by night or a smoke screen by day only to speak to the prophets. He became flesh to walk around with us and then left the Holy Spirit with us individually after Jesus left.  We can now boldly approach the throne as Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to. Lives were forever changed and continue to be changed by a Tradition Breaker, Jesus Christ. 

I suppose the reason I love traditions are because they tell others where we come from. They bind us together in fellowship. Traditions carry our heritage from generation to generation. When they become a problem is when they block our focus to change when needed. Some people during the life of Jesus were still so stuck on their traditions they missed Jesus Christ the Messiah and some of them were so concerned with the Tradition Breaker they sent Him to His death. What they did not know is that their harden hearts fulfilled the Prophets and broke many traditions of the Old Testament. God can use even the hard hearts to change traditions.  My hope and prayer is that if Jesus came and asked me to break or change my traditions I would be open and willing. That I could look past the present loss of something I have done for years to see change is for good…sometimes.