“During the festival days you must explain to your children why you are celebrating…” Exodus 13:8 NLT

Repristinate is not one of those commonly used words in our conversations. It simply means to restore to an original state or condition. It’s what we do when we repaint a house or fence. Left unattended, they would deteriorate and fall apart. With a regular coat of paint, however, the original condition is preserved.

Without a little “repristinating” from time to time, traditions also have a way of deteriorating so that the original purpose and meaning is lost.

That’s why God instructed Hebrew parents to explain the meaning of the festivals they observe to their children, so they would understand the why behind these special festivals.

Repristination may be something as simple as taking time each year to pause and remind one another why we are doing what we do. Or, it may be that more radical changes are required to keep our traditions fresh, relevant and meaningful. Applying some ‘fresh paint’ to our familiar traditions can help restore meaning and delight to our celebrations.

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, this would be a great time to discuss with your family why you do what you do at these holiday celebrations. Ask the grandkids to share some ideas to make the holidays even more memorable and meaningful. In the process, you might even discover a new tradition for your family. A little repristinating is always good.

GRANDPAUSE: Traditions are the avenue of walking and talking spiritual truths. – Otis Ledbetter