Our Stocking Prayer Tradition

Merry Christmas! Last night our family continued what has become a favorite Christmas tradition. We gather around the fireplace, take down the stockings that hang at the mantle and pass them out. Then we each write a prayer to Jesus. The letter gets tucked back in the stocking year after year for no one else but Jesus to see.

I don't know how this tradition started. But this is year nine, so my kids were 4, 6 and 9 when we began. Nothing more precious than a 4 year old's handwritten prayer, full of misspelled and backwards letters, wishing Jesus a Merry Christmas. Last night was the first time I got to see that! One daughter shared the cuteness of her first letter with me. (I don't read any of the prayers, even as I pack up decorations year after year. They are sacred.)

 There were no rules when we started. Some of us highlight the year, some are traditional prayers, some write their questions about the next year, one signs her signature each year to see how it changes. The girls last night were laughing at old phases they've been through in growing up.

 One awesome thing that happens is we can see how God has answered prayers. And we can see how things that seemed so huge and important at the time of writing has actually worked out or become unimportant during the span of twelve months.

 I'm sharing this tradition in hopes you'll steal it and start it too! It's never too late, you can do it on Christmas, New Years, maybe even birthdays. It's become too meaningful to not pass on. Tweak it to fit your family, then have fun.

 Merry Christmas from our family to yours!