"COMMUNITY TRADITIONS"

Good Evening to All!

Have you ever given much thought to traditions? I didn't really until my anniversary a few days ago. Seeing how our wedding anniversary is on July 4th, we do the SAME thing EVERY YEAR, and every year, we say we aren't going to do that the next year. The problem with that is, by the time next year rolls around, we will have forgotten and do the same thing again.

As a community tradition, we have a firework display every year at the High School where all the surrounding towns and even further come out to see it. It is huge. Hubby and I used to go, but now if we watch it at all, we sit in our yard and watch it.

My main comment about tradition is that I want it to remain a tradition with purpose, not out of habit. A tradition should be an event or something done to "commemorate" an occasion. Something to give homage to an event. As I said above our traditional anniversary goes the SAME WAY all the time. I am hoping very much that next year we can do something different, because it has become a habit. I hope to do something to make it "SPECIAL"Actually it is no different than what we do any other time several times a year. It's not a special thing for us to go out and eat, and we go see movies when there is something on we both really want to see. So I am going to rack my brain for next year and think of something special to do.

In Biblical times,

Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. . . .

(Therefore, these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) . . . The Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom [to] without fail observe these two days every year . . . in every generation by every family. (Esther 9:20-22, 26-28 NIV)

I have heard of this holiday before, but never really knew what it was all about. It is where every Spring in the Jewish communities, the celebration of PUrim thanks God for His faithfulness in keeping His people3 form harm, providing a reminder of God's love. The observance involves comic plays, eating hamantaschen (a kind of cookie), giving presents, and reading the Purim scroll, or what we call the book of Esther.

Traditions build community. A special sermon repeated yearly, or a Christmas apageant or play, might become a tradition celebrating a community's faith. Traditions can provide identity for people, bridge generations, and reinforce faith. They are great for strengthening families and church communities, as well as reminding us of God's love.

The feasts that celebrate Jesus are natural times to develop or celebrate traditions. The date a church began or something else special happened can be a day to celebrate yearly. Like Purim, with Scripture reading and reenacting how God saved his people, traditions need to reflect what god does in our lives and the meaning of our celebration. Reflect on your favorite tradition, why it's important, and how it can help you share your faith. Make plans to share your tradition within your community and among your friends or family.

Reference: The 365 Most Important Bible Passages for Woman

Good Night to All and May God Bless!