Tradition

Tradition

As far back as I can remember, I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. My great grandmother lived with us and we shared a love for the parade. She would wake me up in time to eat breakfast and we would make our way to our living room to tune in to NBC to enjoy the festivities. During the 1970s, there was no cable TV, no remote control, and no DVR. Live telecasts were not replayed, so if you missed a production such as the Macy’s parade, you were out of luck seeing it again for an entire year. So, I was up and ready by show time at 9A.M.! To me, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is THE parade of all parades. It is tradition. When Santa makes his appearance at the end of the parade, for me, it felt like Christmas had been ushered in. In little girl anticipation, I waited excitingly for the moment when Santa had officially arrived.

 Fast Forward More Than Four Decades 

Here we are in the present, 2015, the age of technology. The age where DVRs allow us to watch whatever we want to watch whenever we choose to watch it. We can catch some videos and such on YouTube and stream TV shows via our laptops, tablets, or phones. We have come a long way since my childhood years of the 1970s and yet have we really come so far? Guess what I still want to watch on Thanksgiving morning? Yep, you’ve got it! I still want to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on live TV! Some things have changed. I don’t get the little girl excitement that I felt during my childhood years when it felt like an event to me. And, I don’t wait in anticipation for Santa’s appearance at the end of the parade, but I still love the parade. As I share this story it reminds me that tradition is the key that connects us to our past and links us to the future. A tradition that started so long ago for me has continued my entire adult life. As I watch the parade, I remember my great grandma and all the wonderful aspects of knowing her. I remember that she made Thanksgiving special with our love of watching the parade. She began a traditional legacy that passed on to the next generation. I introduced my kids to the parade as well and I wish I could say they all sit in anticipation as the parade begins each and every year, but this is not true. However, because we had traditions, they in return have created traditions with their own families. Knowing tradition is a part of their lives, even if it isn’t the same one that endears me, warms my heart!

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, think of your own holiday ideas. Are there traditions already established within your family? What new tradition could you start that might be carried on from generation to generation?

Every Day Heroes 2

Last post, I mentioned another every day hero that I wanted to make sure got his moment in the spotlight.

After a long battle with diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, he went home to be with the Lord on October 12^th, 2015. His name is Kenneth Blaine Syfert and his faithful, loving wife is Carol Grote Syfert. We have known the Syferts for more than twenty years. Over the years, our friendship grew to become more of a family bond than just a friendship. We walked with them through many struggles and many joys of life. In 2003, Ken lost his leg due to complications to diabetes. It was a traumatic time for their family and it changed the dynamics of their marital relationship. Carol became the breadwinner, a role she would have never chosen. Ken became the stay at home husband who did what he could with his disability to support his wife in her new role.  He also would have never chosen this life adjustment that he was forced to make. A few years later, Ken was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. We remained friends through all of the ups and downs that a degenerative disease brings with it. Through all of the change and heartache, I saw a man, whose faith never waivered. In all of the years that he was ill, we never heard him complain once and as far as I know, he never questioned God as to why he was asked to walk such a seemingly unfair pathway along his journey through life. He had a love for children and he made origami frogs and swans for children he met within his circle of influence. He worked a few summer camps with a friend who owned a business in that field. He hand drew greeting cards that were personalized for the person receiving them. He found ways to let his light shine. He was a selfless, caring man who is already missed greatly. Carol is also an every day hero because she was a faithful spouse and took her vows seriously. She stood by Ken “until death do us part”. She did everything she could to make his life comfortable and as enjoyable as a shut-in’s life can be.

Sharing Stories That Spotlight Every Day Heroes

These are the stories we need to hear of people who have grit and somehow get through the difficult places in life. These are the people we need to place in the spotlight because their lives have purpose and a deeper meaning than we realize. I am grateful that the Lord saw fit for our pathway to cross with Ken and Carol Syfert’s pathway. Knowing them and having the privilege to share life with them has been and will continue to be a true blessing.

Has an every day hero’s pathway has crossed yours? Who has brought purpose and meaning to your life? Jump in and give that person the much-deserved recognition they would never expect.