Yes. My family celebrates Hanukkah...and we are Christians. I'm sure some of you are asking yourselves, "Isn't Hanukkah a Jewish holiday?" The answer is yes and no. Hanukkah is a celebration of GOD's miraculous provision (HIS power enabled the Israelites to defeat the mighty Greek army and HE caused the temple oil to last until more was made - it lasted eight days despite being only a one day supply!). It is a time to remember GOD's faithfulness and it is a time to rededicate yourself to GOD. I believe such a holiday is too full of teachings and significance to pass up. What would be a better way to teach such powerful biblical values than an eight day celebration? So, my husband and I have celebrated Hanukkah with our little family for years and it has always been such a blessing to us. It has also helped keep our faith connected with its Jewish roots.
I guess you could say that celebrating Hanukkah is our family tradition. Perhaps your family has a few traditions that seem puzzling to others. I would encourage you to resist the temptation to conform to what everyone else seems to be doing. Continue to pass on to your children your own beliefs, values, and tradition. Maybe you know of traditions your family once held and are no longer keeping. Who says you can't bring them back to life? Of all the things we can give to our children, our faith, values, and customs are the ones that keep us connected as a family.
 |
| This is our Hanukkah table, complete with gelt for an after dinner game with the dreidel. |
 |
| Yum! Fried donuts are a Hanukkah favorite - along with latkes. |
No comments:
Post a Comment