Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

by Richelle Thompson on November 29, 2010

I broke with tradition last night.

Normally the tree decorating ends in tears – mostly mine. See, I like my tree to be just so. The artificial limbs spread out in an appealing fan, the favorite ornaments occupying the prime real estate.

When my young children clump the ornaments at about three-feet up or my husband leaves an entire side light-less, I feel my idea of the perfect tree-trimming evening slipping away. Then I get grouchy, the kids start to pick at each other and the evening dissolves into a mass of disappointment.

I promised myself this was the year to break the cycle.

When my son made z-shapes out of the limbs, I smiled. When my daughter begged to hang one of the favorite ornaments in her room, I conceded. When I spotted big holes in the tree, I waited until my husband went into the kitchen to fix them.

Letting go of my need for perfection allowed me to experience the evening as I’d always imagined. The kids even listened to stories about the ceramic Santa I painted as a Girl Scout and the bedraggled bell that my mom made the year I was born.

Advent and Christmas are full of traditions and expectations.

I wonder what I’m willing to give up, what my family is willing to sacrifice, what our congregations are willing to change, all that we might prepare the way for the coming of Christ.