Yearly rhythms are significant and hold an important place in our families and homes, even though they are more rare. This Easter weekend, we are considering and reflecting on why yearly rhythms feel so special. Why are they so important?
Rhythms that are daily, weekly, or monthly may seem more significant because their impact is felt on a regular basis. However, the rhythms that occur less frequently are often created to celebrate or commemorate something that is meaningful. We usually talk about these kind of yearly rhythms as traditions. And traditions, these meaningful moments that we intentionally lean into with our closest people, are more impactful than we often realize.
Yearly Rhythms are significant because they are dependable
Yearly rhythms are significant because they are dependable. In a world that is unpredictable and always changing, traditions provide something that we can rely on. We are often navigating unknowns, not certain how life will look, situations will play out, and circumstances will transpire. But a fundamental characteristic of a tradition is that it is the same. We adapt along with the age and stage of our families, but largely, a tradition is the same this year as it was last year.
It sounds so simple. Yet somehow, it’s profound. Why is there such comfort in this – this ‘sameness’? This dependable characteristic, providing markers amidst the passing of time, is one of the reasons yearly rhythms are so important to us.
Traditions are important because they root us in things that are meaningful
Traditions are often created around meaningful moments, things like holidays, spiritual seasons, birthdays and anniversaries. Sometimes they are big, and take planning and collaboration – something like an annual family reunion, which requires travel coordination to pull off. Other times they are small, simple, and special – something like a phone call from a grandparent every birthday. Whether big or small, yearly rhythms are often meaningful. Their intention is for connection, or moreso, reconnection, with people and places that are significant. Traditions provide a way for us to live into some of our deepest longings as human beings – to know who we are and where we belong.
Traditions root us in who we are
Yearly rhythms root us in the values and beliefs that shape how we see ourselves. They impact who we believe we are. We are purposefully and lovingly created, children of God. When we believe and live into this God-given identity, our understanding of who we are becomes sure and unchanging. It is no longer dependent on us, but on Him. Traditions are one way that we live in the light of this truth. They bring us back to a place of remembering and honouring who Jesus is, and who we are in Him, as His.
Many favourite traditions have Christ focused origins
When you ask kids about their favourite traditions, 9 times out of 10 the first thing they’ll mention is Christmas or Easter! These holidays have lots of fun elements that pull for our attention (enter Santa and the Easter bunny!) 🤪 There are obvious reasons why we love popular traditions connected to these holidays. However, we believe there is a deeper reason these times are important to us.
Today, these holidays commemorate and celebrate Jesus’ life. With significant milestones of Jesus’ life as the focus of each of these seasons, the beginning and the end of His life, they turn and focus our eyes on Him and what He has done for us. Whether we acknowledge Him or not, Christ is the undercurrent of these spiritual seasons. And we are drawn to it, to Him. As we enter into the Easter season and remember what Jesus has done to save us, we grow more deeply rooted in who we are as His kids.
Traditions root us in where we belong
Yearly rhythms, traditions, also root us in where we belong – with the community, friends and family that we share them with. Traditions bring us home. Home, not necessarily to a house, but to the people who love you and welcome you in, no matter what.
Have you ever had that moment where you’re telling someone about a favourite family tradition, and as you hear it coming out of your mouth, you realize how un-interesting it actually sounds? 🤪 Something like, “On Christmas morning, we eat mandarin oranges and drink coffee together by the fireplace.” That is a nice moment, a nice tradition, but notice, it really isn’t that epic. The point is not so much what the actual tradition is, but that it’s experienced together with the people we love, the place we belong.
We have an innate longing for tradition
We were pretty shocked how little our daughter was when she started saying things like “last year, we (fill in the blank)ed, so we’re going to do that again, right?” At 2 years old, we weren’t sure she’d remember the moments we were excited to be creating with her and for her. And we knew that was ok. Even without memory of her early years, she was being shaped and molded by them.
But then, at age three, she would recall memories from Christmas or family birthday celebrations that were surprisingly detailed. We quickly realized that, not only was she remembering these special moments, but she wanted to recreate them. We hadn’t taught her about traditions, and yet she was innately drawn to them. There is something deep that our hearts long for, a desire that dependable yearly rhythms seem to meet.
Small and simple traditions can mean the most
Some of our favourite traditions are the ones that are almost too small to even mention, the ones that have us asking “does this even count as a tradition?” Some things we do are hardly ‘a thing,’ and yet to our family, it’s important. It’s one of our ‘things.’ It is often the little ones, the seemingly small rhythms, that we find we delight in the most.
Without necessarily meaning to, we began a whole lot of little yearly rhythms like this that it seems have been locked in by the kids. Is it really a birthday if there isn’t a birthday banner hanging in the window? Is it really Christmas season if we haven’t baked GiGi’s peppernuts (cookies) yet?? You can’t actually start school in September if you haven’t had a DQ blizzard date with mom and dad first, can you? Sometimes the small things we do consistently are the things that hold the most weight in our hearts. Little things become impactful moments, that become meaningful memories, that connect us forever.
Easter
As we celebrate Easter, we encourage you to embrace simplicity and lean into the yearly rhythms that are significant to your family. Lean into the traditions that aren’t necessarily flashy or fancy, but are meaningful. The moments that quiet our minds and focus our hearts on the sacrifice made for us out of deep love. And celebrate yearly rhythms in a way that brings your family and friends together in intentional and reconnective ways.
Encouragement
How can you create moments this Easter, or this year, that will strengthen your kids’ sense of belonging and build into the tangible knowing that they are loved? They will begin to anticipate and treasure these things that “we always do together,” and they will grow roots that intertwine and connect their hearts to yours.
Much love, and Happy Easter!
Brianna and Ben
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