Traditions of Joy

     As we talked together this week, discussing topics for out post we wanted to write about some of  the Christmas traditions that we grew up with, the things we remember most.  Well, we thought and thought...and thought some more and sadly we realized that we didn't really have many traditions that we did every year.  We did things like open one gift on Christmas Eve, and we knew there would be an orange and an apple in our stockings, but we couldn't really think of anything we did as a tradition.  Then we both realized, there was ONE tradition that has been in our family since the very beginning, something we do to this day.  It is a very simply thing, but something that has had a remarkable impact on both our lives.  Every year when our family gathers, whether it's a large gathering with aunts, uncles, and cousins, or just our family of Mom, Dad, brother, and sisters, we sit in a circle and pass out candles.  We turn off all the lights and then someone lights their candle.  This person then tells what he or she is grateful for.  When they are finished the next person lights their candle from the existing flame.  This continues, as the light is passed and shared from one person to the next until every one has a glowing candle in front of them and has shared what they are grateful for.  The room goes from being completely dark to being filled with a warm glowing light.  We then would sing a special hymn that is sung at every family gathering.  We'd like to share it with you.



In this very room there's quite enough love for one like me,

And in this very room there's quite enough joy for one like me,

And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,

For Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room.

 

And in this very room there's quite enough love for all of us,

And in this very room there's quite enough joy for all of us,

And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,

For Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room.

 

And in this very room there's quite enough love for all the world,

And in this very room there's quite enough joy for all the world,

And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,

For Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room.

     There is a word in this song that sticks out to me as we approach Christmas.  Joy.  It is such a simple word and yet it contains so much meaning.  We are told that men are that they might have joy.  This simple word represents the very thing that Heavenly Father wants us to have in this life.  This Christmas let us all remember that one of the most important gifts we can give each other is the gift of joy.  And what better way to give this gift than to share the love of Christ and his precious message?  Give joy and have joy.  Merry Christmas to all of you.