We are coming to the close of the Advent season, and Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is just around the corner.  Which makes me want to ask, Does your family have a Christmas tradition?   As a child growing up, ours was always going as a family to select the “perfect” Christmas tree.  For those of you from the snowy north country, ours was not a trip to the woods with an ax, but rather to the Christmas tree lot operated by the local Optimist Club (Think of the movie, A Christmas Story).  We have some friends for whom it means going to the deer lease, where the whole family gathers to hunt, eat, and open presents.  Some families gather at a “neutral” site, like resort or an Airbnb, to share time together. When you start your own family and have children of your own, you develop new traditions.  For the Ferguson family, the greatest Christmas tradition has been hanging Leon.  Perhaps I should explain.

Several years ago, during her period of what I call “craft frenzy”—not quite as bad as Martha Stewart, but close (I’m pretty sure it was 1982, because most of the “crafty” ornaments with dates have “1982” on them), my wife, Sandy, made a large assortment of cross-stitched Christmas ornaments.  Some had “Merry Christmas” on them, and some were reindeer or bells or Christmas trees, and all of them had a loop of gold cord sewn into them to use as a hanger.  We were decorating the tree that year and had hung all the ornaments except the cross-stitched ones.  I picked up one that said “Noel” on it and pointed out to Sandy that she had put the hanger on the wrong end.  My mother, the quick-witted English teacher, who happened to be there helping us decorate, quickly said, “No she didn’t.  See, it says, ‘Leon’” I said, with a sarcastic tone that turned out to be prophetic, “Well, anything that special deserves a place of honor.”  So, we hung it at the top of the tree just beneath the angel.  The following year, as we were decorating the tree, one of our children came across “Leon” and wanted to hang it.  A squabble ensued, and that was when we had to set up a “rotation” to ensure that everyone had his or her chance to “hang Leon.”  If I ever forgot whose turn it was, not to worry—they all knew!

Shortly after Catherine and Travis became engaged, they came over to help up decorate the tree.  Catherine thought it would be a great idea to let Travis hang Leon.  After all, he was about to become part of our family.  Afterwards, Catherine called our son Craig and told him that we were decorating the tree and that Travis had hung Leon.  There was a long silence, after which Craig said, “Well, tell him to enjoy it, because it will be a long time before his turn comes around again.”

And the tradition continues! The year our oldest son got married, Sandy made him and his wife their own “Leon,” an exact duplicate of the one that hangs on our tree.  You would not believe the protests that ensued from our other two when they thought we had given Leon to Chris “I can’t believe you’d do that!”  “He’s part of our family.  “You wouldn’t give one of us away, would you?”  “Why should he get Leon?” That’s when Sandy explained that she had made another one for him.  “Well, then, where’s mine?”  We explained that, when they start their own families, she will make them a “Leon” and they can begin their own traditions.  Each of them now has their own “Leon.”  Our daughter later said, “You know, y’all need to go ahead and put in your will just who is going to get the original Leon.” 

If you come to our home when the Christmas tree is up, you will see Leon, hanging in his place of honor, reminding us—and all who enter—of the love we share as a family and of the special traditions that mold us and shape us together.

So, whether your family tradition is the singing of carols, attending the Christmas Eve service at church (and I hope you will all come this year), sending Christmas cards, or something totally unique to your family, like hanging Leon, may it be for you a time of joy and celebration.  And may we always remember the reason for the celebration.

Blessings,

Steve+

Prayer:  Father, help us all to remember that the greatest tradition we celebrate during this Christmas season is the birth of Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.