Traditions have always been a big part of my life.
I grew up in a multi-generational household and it was a blessing to be raised in the same home with my paternal grandparents.
There were things that we did as tradition all through the year...
things like picnics at a state park, making cut out cookies with my mom every year at Christmas.
Then when I married Strong Heart, we started some of our own traditions.
When the children came along it was even more fun to pass down some of those traditions to them.
And it became such a blessing to us when our children married that they took some of those same traditions as their own.
But this year after Christmas, Strong Heart and I started a new tradition.
We took all of the Christmas cards that we received this year,
put them in a basket that sits on our kitchen table
and each morning, as we sit down to breakfast,
Strong Heart picks out a card and as he asks God's blessing on our day and our food, we also pray for the names on the Christmas card that he picked.
It's been such a blessing.
Once we've prayed for the people on the card, he puts it at the back of the cards.
We have really enjoyed doing this, because it gives us that incentive we need to pray for folks that we normally wouldn't think to pray for.
Makes me wish I had sent you a card!
ReplyDeleteHow about if I just add you to my prayer list? Would that work? xx
DeleteTraditions can be so fun! I remember when Andy was little, he would often say - we need to do it - it's a tradition! If he wanted to do something, he would say it was a tradition, even if it had only ever been done once. :)
ReplyDeleteI so love your new tradition!
Mari, I loved hearing about Andy and his love for traditions. Thank you so much for sharing that!
DeleteThank you for your kind words. We are enjoying it. We have a friend who was traveling from SC to Morgantown over the weekend because she had an appointment at the Eye Institute at WVU on Monday. Without knowing ahead of time whose card was next (because he just pulls out the next one in line), it just so happened that the card was from this same couple. How special it was to pray very specifically for them yesterday.
I love how God works!
DeleteMe, too! That was one of those times when we just looked at each other and said, "God did that!"
DeleteThat is a great tradition. Thanks for sharing it, Dianna!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Ellen.
DeleteThat is a great tradition! I love when meaningful traditions arise from our lives and interactions.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend, for your kind words.
DeleteHi Dianna. Makes me wish I'd sent you a card.❤️ That is a wonderful tradition!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia. You are prayed for quite often even though there isn't a card from you in the basket. xx
DeleteI think your new tradition is an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you so much, Jan!
DeleteOh I love that idea with the cards. I too am going to do that!!! What a great way to pray for people. I am so glad I sent you a card. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that it's something that you want to incorporate into your life as well, my friend. Oh...and by the way, we prayed for you and Ken over the weekend. :) xx
Deletewhat a beautiful tradition!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. We are enjoying it.
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