Traditions...

It's a tradition in our home to deorate the place for the Christmas Season.  That is a tradition handed down from my parents to me.  Mom would tack up some packing string wall to wall and hang up the Christmas cards as quickly as the post man would bring them.  There would be paper streamers of red and green wound around from corners of the room to the centre with paper fold out bells to match hanging from the middle of the living room ceiling.

As a child, we would go into the bush somewhere across the river, usually on a Saturday afternoon and chop down a tree, one which Mother would give her approving nod. It would come home atop the car and brought into the house to stand overnight on the bare kitchen floor to thaw out for next days decorating.  It was a huge deal.  It really was the most exciting time of the year.  Mother had kept the glass balls covered in paper stored in a large "Chiquita Banana" box up in the attic....and later in the basement under the stairs.  The golden garland and home-made deorations were all there too and she placed each one on the tree with great care....after Dad had strung the lights, of course.  It was truly a family affair and we could hardly sleep for the excitement of it all.  The pungent aroma of pine hung in the air...in every room....reminding us of the beauty of the season and of nature.

So, is it any wonder that a tradition so full of marvelous, precious memories passed on to me, would make me now known as the "Christmas Queen"!  It is because of tradition that I have such a desire to make this season special and memorable for my own children.  I desire to pass this on....this feeling of wonder, of goodness and of charity.  Of course Christmas isn't only a feeling, it's a reality that something wonderous has happened in the world, something that can help the world to change for the better.

I pray that you and yours will experience the wonder of Christmas...the wonder of new life and hope and love and peace.

Sunday, we will light the first Advent candle, reminding us of hope....the hope we have in Christ, who was born to this world to be an example of God's unending love for us.