My Christmas traditions began 65 years ago. In many ways, they are as traditional as can be. Huge family events with dozens of cousins at grandma and grandpa’s house way back in the early 1960s. Midnight mass for my nine siblings and our parents. Piles of gifts stacked around many “Charlie Brown” type of Christmas trees. Strings of popcorn that we made a week or two before Christmas hung on the tree with the lights and ornaments from long ago.

This year a new tradition has begun- a tradition that no one saw coming. We can credit it to Covid-19. When Cup of Cold Water Ministries published the One Baby For The World Christmas Devotional written by Shari Tvrdik, I decided to purchase a copy for each of my nine siblings. As a family, we rarely, or even never, discussed spiritual matters or prayed together outside of the memorized meal prayer or special occasion prayer. This year I thought I would share the daily devotional with them. A few days before the December 1 starting date, I decided to invite them to a family Zoom to read each day together. Fifteen minutes a day to connect around the Word of God and the stories from the mission field. To be honest, I expected a rather lukewarm response, but I had underestimated my family. The commitment to meet daily has been overwhelming; it is rare that anyone misses a day. Even some of the next-generation family members have become regulars on the Zoom. And that is how new traditions begin, with a prompting from the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things (even Covid-19) God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.