A Tradition That Reunited A Family
Keep love in your heart and stay open to the possibilities that traditions can bring
when the family is writing the story together.
It’s a snowy evening in December. There is a roaring fire in the fireplace. I am cuddled up in my favorite blanket on the couch and yep, you guessed it, I am enjoying one of the latest Hallmark Christmas movies. These touching yet predictable movies have a way of softening one’s heart to help get ready for the upcoming holiday gatherings. This Hallmark presentation ended up being one of my favorites of the season - “Reunited at Christmas.”
It was early in the plot when I was appreciating the beautiful Christmas lights, decorations and meeting the characters of the story that I was wondering just how everyone was going to “play nice” for the week. You see, prior to her death, “Nana”, as they called their paternal grandmother, had put a plan in place to invite everyone (including her ex-daughter-in-law) to her house for Christmas – it had been the holiday gathering place for years. I am sure she thought it would be a great idea for everyone to have one last Christmas at the house, however, when the family arrived tension and awkwardness in the air made everyone very uncomfortable, especially the youngest granddaughter’s new boyfriend. After everyone got settled, they gathered in the living room and one of the adult granddaughters began reading the letter Nana left for them and I hear “Traditions are the stories families write together.” I immediately think to myself “Isn’t that the truth” and wanted to give her a high-five. Nana is one smart cookie!
Nevertheless, it’s not always easy these days with estranged family members, blended families, divorced families or even a traditional family.
So, how do you make the experiences the best they can be?
Three things I believe are important when continuing traditions and writing stories together:
* BE INTENTIONAL- Just like Nana did in the movie, plan it! One of the traditions that my sister and I enjoy so much is baking and decorating Christmas cookies. With all the busy schedules it gets difficult to figure out what day we can do it, but we plan ahead and make it happen!
* INVITE THEM ALL AND WORK WITH THE WILLING – In the movie, Nana invites them all. She left it up to the individual to decide if they are willing, if it is the right time, if it is a priority, etc… Sometimes schedules just don’t work out for every person or priorities are not the same each year and that’s okay. Just don’t let one person’s lack of attendance keep the family from continuing a tradition you all enjoy!
* PERFECTION ISN’T NEEDED – This one is a struggle for this recovering perfectionist. 😊 I want everything to be just as it was last year with everyone in attendance and as much fun as it was the years before. However, what I need to keep reminding myself is that “perfection” happens if we are together writing the story and not so much about getting it “exactly right” – whatever that means.
With Legacy Design services we are helping you continue to write your family story together through intentional systematic traditions all focused around your family’s common purpose and the family legacy, you want to live and leave.
Now, I bet you are dying to know what happened in the movie… Well, in the letter Nana wrote she reminded the family of the list of traditions that they had done together in years past and encouraged them to do them together this year. Even though not everyone participated in all of the traditions and things didn’t turn out exactly as imagined, the family continued to write their story together and had a wonderful love-filled week.
