Tradition

Tradition

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, my mom cooked dinner throughout the week, but Sunday was typically the day we’d fend for ourselves. As an avid fan of leftovers and cold cereal, I didn’t mind those options—unless Dad offered to make Norwegian pancakes.

Originally from North Dakota, my dad is the son of Norwegian immigrants who arrived on the prairie more than a century ago. As a child, I grew up eating lefse, rutabaga, and other Scandinavian foods, but my favorite item was Norwegian pancakes. They were thin and fried fast, and they reminded me of crepes. We’d slather them in butter, sprinkle them with brown sugar, then roll them up and eat them. They were sweet and delicious, and to this day I’m confused on how they qualified as dinner rather than dessert.

Norwegian pancakes were one of the many traditions my family cherished. As a mother now myself, I’ve tried to cultivate our own traditions—like movie nights with “fancy” chocolate-sprinkled popcorn, our annual visit to Madeline Island, Sunday sundaes with all the toppings, a summer bucket list, and daily acts of kindness during December. All of those are special to me, not just because of the activities themselves but because they remind me of happy memories of times past.

Throughout the Bible, traditions were seen both positively and negatively. They governed everything from sacrifices to festivals to behavior on the Sabbath. While some were helpful, others caused clashes between Jesus and his followers and the religious leaders of the day. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds them to follow the traditions he has laid out for them—but only after reminding them that he himself is imitating Christ.

We lead by example. Our traditions, too, can be positive or negative, depending on how they affect others. Are they inclusive or exclusive? Do they honor Christ’s example? Do they invite us into deeper relationships with God and one another or are they just a set of rules? As Christians, let’s consider whether or not our traditions reflect the love of Christ.

Lord, help us to cultivate traditions that honor you and the way you love each and every person. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Consider your traditions through the lens of Christ’s love.