It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (TM)

Growing up, the meal time prayer became a tradition on our family. My father would pray the Lord’s Prayer and then the children would say a Dutch prayer taught to us by our Grandparents. It was the same each meal. To this day, when our family gets together for a meal my father will say a prayer and the little Dutch prayer will be right there on my lips. Once in a while I will just say it out loud and the family laughs at the memory.

I’m not big on traditions. At least, I’m not big on isolating people into stuffy practices for the sake of "we’ve always done it that way before." I’m too right-brained for that. I believe the creative surge of exploring new ways to communiate eternal truths is good for everyone involved.

At the same time, I don’t believe that traditions are worthless. A simple Dutch prayer taught to the children in the family may have seemed rote and mindless for a time. Now that prayer is a touchstone to my heritage, my childhood, and my personal spiritual journey. I’m grateful for that tradition today.

I wonder what traditions I’ve instilled in my children that will become touchstones for them? What healthy traditions can I yet instill in my family today?

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and rocket ship.