New Traditions

What2Say2Day? Yesterday, just as my day at job 1 was ending, I spoke with a co-worker whom I haven't seen since before our break. I like speaking with her because she's always upbeat, energetic, and generally sees the good side of life. A conversation with her always leaves me feeling positive.

I asked her how her break was which resulted in me being blessed by a story-telling which lasted 15 or 20 minutes. As she told her story I was able to smile, laugh, and chuckle along with her. She was also able to tell of a moment during her break where she finally realized that where she was in her life is where she was, and there was no turning back; not yet.

Her and her partner had come here to be in warmer weather so that muscle and bone pains he had from a bad childhood accident wouldn't be as excruciating during the winters. In the move, though, she had spent the first Christmas ever away from her parents, sister, niece and nephew and other family members. Of course there was Skype, but that's not the same.

As she told the story I watched as the twinkle in her eye faded for just a moment as she recalled the family's tradition of gathering in the home to have a bowl of "Daddy's Chili". It was in that moment I could see that she now knew she was living a new life. Her eyes soon brightened again as she continued telling of other stories involving her partner, jobs, and church. Before we all knew it the smiles and positiveness was flowing through the room again.

That made me think about what we are called to do in a life with Christ. Paul writes in the 13th chapter of his 1st letter to Corinth, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways." When we begin living a new life in Christ we sometimes have to give up many of the things we used to do and begin new traditions. Of course, with the help of those around us and our God, the transition into a new life in Christ will become traditions we will celebrate every day.