When Traditions Change: Finding Beauty in a New Season
 | Author:
Ellie West, Certified NLP Coach/Practitioner of Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy
Inside Inspiration: Certified NLP Coach/Practitioner Of Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy |
When Traditions Change: Finding Beauty in a New Season
Ellie West
Certified NLP Coach/Practitioner of Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy
As I look back on my holiday memories, I realize how traditions once felt fixed, certain, predictable, and comforting. But as my story has unfolded, I’ve discovered that God often reveals new meaning through change, leading me into unexpected moments and treasured memories.
Holiday traditions, most of us have known them, and many still hold them close. But what happens when a new season brings something different? What if you move to a new town, or a parent, spouse, or sibling passes away? What if a new relationship begins, or one ends?
Imagine, even just for a moment, trying something different, whether it's changing the traditional menu, switching up the location of your regular gathering, or taking a family trip during the holidays. Or celebrating with friends and family you haven’t seen in years.
Last year was a season of creating new memories for us. Since Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, I had no idea what it would be like to fly out on Thanksgiving morning to a place I had always wanted to visit. My beloved Thanksgiving meal, the one I love preparing, wasn’t happening. We made a reservation at a restaurant in Waco, TX, and I remember, with a smile, wondering, “Do people really eat at a restaurant during the holidays?”
Yes, they do, and the restaurant was full.
What I learned from breaking tradition is this: “Letting something go allows freedom for developing something new.”
And those new traditions? They can be just as meaningful, or even better.
When my daughter was younger, Christmas was filled with treasured memories. I have always loved celebrating on Christmas Eve. There was such peace and calm as we attended candlelit services at church. And if snow was softly falling, it brought even greater joy to my heart. After the service, we would go home for a traditional elk steak and shrimp dinner. The house was dimly lit with the gentle glow of candles and Christmas tree lights. Then came gift-giving, beautiful traditions built on love, time, and care.
But Christmas traditions began to change when my daughter married and had children of her own. It became her turn to create traditions with her family. Letting go of those long-held moments was tender, but I’ve come to realize something important: the heart of the holidays isn’t the tradition, it’s the people God has given us to love.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
So, what will you do to start a new tradition this holiday season? The beautiful moments we enjoy can be just as meaningful and fulfilling, sometimes even more so, when we embrace the new season God is guiding us into and let ourselves become more fully the people we were created to be. And it’s okay. We are learning to meet our children as the adults they are becoming.
If you find yourself in a season of creating something new, embrace the moment. Not as a replacement for what once was, but as its own beautiful gift. Because God is the One who goes before us, the One who steadies us, and the One who makes all things new (Isaiah 43:19).
As you step into this holiday season, open yourself to new experiences, cherish what has been, and trust God's gentle guidance as He leads you forward. Take a moment to reflect…
What is one tradition you might need to let go of this year so your heart can open to something new God might be inviting in?
How is God encouraging you to connect with your loved ones in their current season instead of focusing on past ones?
Where in your life do you sense God guiding you, “It’s time for a new beginning,” and what might trusting Him in that look like?
Ultimately, holiday traditions aren’t just about what we do; they’re about who we love and the God who carries us through every season.
As life changes, may we make space for both the memories that have shaped us and the new moments God is graciously weaving into our story.
May your holidays be filled with grace for what has been and courage for what is to come. Happy Thanksgiving.
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