Holiday Traditions Instill Values

"These commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach your to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you."

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commands that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when your get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates."

-- Deuteronomy 6:1-9

We have the great privilege as parents to train our children to walk with God and to walk in all His ways. We learn in I John that His commands are not burdensome and Jesus tells us in Matthew that His yoke is easy and His burden light. Unfortunately, we can often make obeying God seem boring, hard and very burdensome. Our children will obey God better when they see us JOYFULLY obeying him with a song in our heart and a smile on our face. God's way is best. His commands make our life happy and safe. He created us and when we follow His ownership manual, we receive perfect instructions to live in a way that will honor Him and make our lives pleasant.

Discipline, correction and punishment are all part of child training and should never be neglected. Children should learn to obey immediately, completely, and cheerfully. Girls and boys should begin spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, Bible study, church attendance, tithing, and evangelism at a young age. It is not always fun to obey and learn to do what is right. But the long-term fruit is always pleasant.

In contrast to the necessary mundane training, traditions are the perfect time to instill values in a positive, fun way!!! What fun to learn to honor parents by serving them breakfast in bed or giving them beautifully wrapped presents on Mother's Day or Father's Day. How nice to learn the importance of thankfulness by sharing praise reports around the table before indulging in a delicious meal. What a blast to have patriotism taught by acting out skits about our country's heritage while wearing red, white, and blue.

Each holiday can have a specific thing that we celebrate and specific values and Biblical principles that we strive to instill.

New Years:

"For I know that plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future."

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Celebrate: Our for the future in Christ.

Values: Reflection and examination. Goal setting.

Traditions are chosen to instill these things in your children. For example, you might have a special New Years' Eve meal and during desert everyone shares God's greatest blessing to them the past year and one way God answered prayer. Then you can take time to make goals for the New Year.

Valentines' Day:

"Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure."

(Hebrews 13:4)

Celebrate: God's gift of love and marriage.

Values: Honor marriage.

Decorate with roses and hearts. Let the children bake heart-shaped cookies. Read Bible love stories: David & Abigail; Ruth and Boaz; Issac and Rebekah. Pray for married couples in the church. Exchange love/appreciation notes. Eat a fancy dinner by candlelight while Mom and Dad share the story of their courtship and marriage.

Easter:

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

(John 11:25, 26)

Celebrate: Jesus' resurrection and eternal life.

Values: Newness, renewing, rebirth, hope for Heaven.

Have a family sunrise service! Attend church together in new dresses. Act out the Easter story, or read it together or watch a movie on the life of Jesus. Decorate with spring colors: green, yellow, pink, and lavender. Hide plastic eggs filled with candy, let children find eggs and empty candy; then they put resurrection symbols inside and hide them for the adults. Share the Gospel with your children and invite them to become Believers.

Mothers' and Fathers' Days:

"Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth."

(Ephesians 6:2, 3)

Celebrate: God's gift of parents.

Values: Honoring parents.

Breakfast in bed. Cards, flowers and phone calls to Dad, Mom and grandparents. Fix favorite meals or take to favorite restaurant. Talk about fatherly aspects of God on Father's Day and motherly aspects of God on Mothers' Day. Dad gets his favorite deserts for seven nights in a row---different ones. Mom gets chocolate!!!!

Fourth of July:

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

(Proverbs 14:34)

Celebrate: Freedom to serve God, Christian heritage.

Values: Patriotism, appreciation for freedom.

Fly your flag outside. Discuss Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and godly founding fathers. Make up skits about historical events. Watch fireworks display and sing patriotic songs. Decorate with red, white, and blue and eat traditional American foods.

Thanksgiving:

"Give thanks in all circumstances,"

(I Thessalonians 5:18)

Celebrate: God's abundant blessings.

Values: Gratefulness, praise.

Tell the story of the first Thanksgiving. Everyone share what they are thankful for and thank Jesus! Invite friends over for a Praise Breakfast---share testimonies and follow with a time of worship. Contribute food or deliver food baskets to the needy. Invite those without family to share holiday. Decorate with horn of plenty, fruits and vegetables, autumn leaves, baskets, pilgrims, Indians and turkeys. Eat traditional meal and try to include foods from the original Thanksgiving feast.

Birthdays:

"You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

(Psalm 139:13, 14)

Celebrate: God's gift of birthday person.

Values: Self-esteem, honoring others.

Make everyone's birthday special with their favorite meals, parties, gifts, etc. Share why we are thankful for the birthday person and thank Jesus for them. Pray over birthday person. Look at baby book or baby pictures.

©2006 Meredith Curtis (adapted from Celebrating Christmas! By MLC) All rights reserved.

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