Christmas Tradition: Thankful Morning Walk

During the Christmas season we often forget the gratitude we felt during Thanksgiving. Sometimes this happens the very next day with people fighting over bargain deals on Black Friday. In our culture the Christmas season has turned into a holiday about giving others and oneself an excuse to spend money on gifts and to come to expect them in return. In some circles not giving someone a Christmas gift can be the ultimate dis. Christmas, in many households, is now a commercial holiday, not a religious or family one.

In my family, we have a great traditions to help bring a bit of the gratitude of Thanksgiving to the Christmas celebrations. To start with, we were not allowed to open presents until my mom was awake and we were not allowed to wake her up. She would wake up in her own good time. This would give us a relaxing Christmas morning, eating our Christmas orange and drinking hot cocoa. We would play with the small toys that had been left in our stocking and really appreciate them as we waited quietly for mom to wake up.

When mom did wake up, the family would get all bundled up and go for a Christmas walk. Actually the walk was more like a Thanksgiving walk. We would each take turns saying what we were thankful for. Sometimes, the family would turn it into a game, each family member would repeat all the previous thanksgiving statements and tack their own on to the end. We would keep walking until we started having a hard time coming up with thanksgiving statements. Then we would turn around and walk back, really pressing ourselves to think about what we were thankful for.

I recommend actually getting outside and going for a walk for a couple reasons. First, December is cold and walking outside will help you remember that some people do not have a home in this weather. It will also help you appreciate your home even more when you get back inside your home. Second, by walking you are changing your environment which can help prompt thankful thoughts otherwise unnoticed. Third, walking is good for your health and you will probably be eating all sorts of unhealthy foods over the day. Walking helps balance that out a bit. If someone in your family has mobility issues, going for a walk may be inappropriate. This can be done in the family home just as easily or you can go for a drive.

This Christmas season, take the time to remember all the blessings you already have. So many people do not have them. Your blessings are your privilege. They give you the strength and power to sustain your life as it is. Most of these blessings go unnoticed until they are gone. Without these things your life would be more difficult. As you reflect on your blessings walking thankfully, think about what life would be like without them. Reflect about whether this year you have used your blessings selfishly or for the benefit of others. Have you helped those whom you could? Have you helped those who don't have all the blessings you do?

So before the kids and family go crazy with the presents and lavish foods, take some time to appreciate all the blessings in your life. Thanksgiving should not be confined to a day of cooking and eating in November. Thanksgiving should follow through life. The Christmas season is about very diverse concepts. Christmas is about giving and receiving, both in a commercial and non-commercial way. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, whom Christians believe is the savior of the world. Christmas is about family as most family members get at least some time off of work and school during this time. This year make Christmas about Thanksgiving as well. By integrating Thanksgiving into Christmas with a Christmas walk, you help solidify a thankful spirit to get you through the year.