Coming up soon, we will begin our celebration of Advent and Christmas. How will we be celebrating this year in the midst of Covid-19 and the restrictions that are necessary for our safety and the safety of others? This is a difficult question for couples and families. It is important to talk about this time as a couple and to review our traditions and our hopes for this year.
What traditions from the families that you grew up in were important to each of you? Share these with one another. What did you enjoy and find meaning in? What was fun and life giving to you?
Now each of you look at the holidays from the past few years, what did you do? What has changed over the years? Again, share these with each other.
Looking forward to this year, what will you be doing differently? What are the important elements for you? What will you be changing? What are the feelings that you have about the changes that you will make to adjust to this time? How can you incorporate some of the most important things to you in an adjusted way?
Gift giving is usually part of our traditions. What are the gifts that you can give that may not require going out to buy a gift, but are gifts of your presence and care for each other? Maybe it is a back rub, maybe it is a quiet time together to share your love and appreciation for each other. Perhaps you can make a card. Take a walk just the two of you and talk about the gifts that you give to each other all the time, such as helping with household chores or taking the car to the shop, etc. Give a gift from the heart.
It is important to remember to have some fun during this season. What can you do to make you laugh and let go? Could you play in the leaves? Dance? Watch a fun Christmas movie? Play games?
Talk about your spiritual traditions. What will you do this year? Attend services online. Spend some time as a couple or family reading the Nativity story in the Bible. Music is often a part of our worship. What music can you play to provide quiet moments of reflection or joyous moments that overflow with hymns like “Silent Night” or “O Holy Night”.
Your homework is to find a time soon before you get caught up in the season to talk about and plan what you want, especially this year.
Carl and Nancy Terry