Oranges bring back memories

Traditions. They can be good things and bad things.  Every Christmas growing up we got oranges, because of tradition.  My Great Uncle would order us two bushels of oranges for Christmas, direct shipped to our house, from Florida, shortly after the new year.  I asked him why he ordered us oranges and he told me it was tradition from when he was growing up.

Did you ever get oranges for Christmas? It has been a tradition in many homes and a treat for years at Christmas, helping the younger generations survive the deep winter and lack of vitamin C.  It was also fun to eat while waiting for friends and relatives to arrive for the Christmas feast.  Now my family continues the tradition, but we take it a step further putting the peels and leftover cranberries into a pan to simmer on the stove.

Traditions are important, but at times they can hinder our celebration.  We continue to celebrate the season of advent and prepare for the coming of Christ.  What is standing in the way of your celebration this year? Is it a concern for money to get others what they want?  Is it a hope for the perfect day or party?  Is it a worry about health, relationships, work, grades, or something else?

All of these things that stand in our way are doing one thing, they are standing in the way of what God is trying to do.  God is trying to meet us in these days, the traditions, gift giving, shopping and meal planning can be barriers to what God is doing.  Don’t become so busy or distracted that you miss out on what God is doing.  Let us celebrate this Advent and Christmas season as children once again.

Jesus took time to meet with children in His ministry, when people would stand in the way of children being ministered to by Him He spoke harshly to them, as in Matthew 19:

13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

So what traditions, experiences, or expectations are standing in the way of you meeting with Jesus?  Let us slow down, approach Him as a child, and let Him work in our lives.  He wants to meet with us in the midst of this season, don’t miss out on His work by allowing the cares and concerns stand in the way.

Use the traditions you have to point you to Jesus as Lord and Savior, knowing that His advent is for God’s glory and our good.  Prepare your heart to meet with Him this year for Christmas.