Anybody got a llama?

I was just listening to the radio.

The segment was about Christmas traditions.

This woman was talking about how she wanted to make her traditions more meaningful so now she and her husband and three kids go out to the barn…they get one of each animal…a horse, a llama (no joke)…a chicken…and then they sit in the barn and read the Christmas story from the Bible.

Really?

I can just see it now.  My husband is looking at me like I’ve completely lost my mind, my kids are hitting each other and screaming at me because they are FREEZING.  The animals are going to the bathroom and/or trying to run away.  And there’s me…in the middle of it…with the Bible….reading in a calm voice and feeling peace. 

Not so much.

But it got me thinking.

Do we need a barn?  Do we need a llama?  (Who has a llama?)

Can we make our traditions more meaningful without getting frostbite?

I was asking my husband this morning about his traditions when he was a kid and he doesn’t remember.  Now I’m sure if someone reminded him of something they did, he would recall but I liked his answer because it lets me off the hook. 

Of course I want to create memories and traditions.  I want to teach my kids about Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.  I want to participate in Christmas in a holy, spiritual way.   Don’t we all?

But his answer got me thinking.  What do I remember about Christmas?  I remember we had a 20 foot tree because we had high ceilings.  I remember the year I got a waterbed.   (I know, right?) After that, I’m stumped to think of anything else.  We always attended midnight mass but other than that, no great big holy tradition stands out.

And yet, I had a great childhood.  I had lovely Christmases.   I felt loved.  I grew up to have a strong faith.  I know Jesus is the reason for the season but I’m sure as a kid I was thrilled with the idea of Santa and presents and the Barbra Streisand Christmas album and A Charlie Brown Christmas and too much food. 

I guess when I think about it, we had the same traditions for Christmas that we had the rest of the year.  Laughter, faith, comfort, a cozy home, good food, enthusiasm, trust, honesty, loyalty, open discussions, kindness, thoughtfulness, reading books, thinking, playing games, talking together, helping, loving. 

I never had Christmas in a barn but I had many years of learning about love.  Isn’t that what Christmas is about anyway?

This year, instead of worrying and hurrying and driving yourself crazy trying to find a llama, consider yourself off the hook…or at least, out of the barn.