Esther 9:27-28 (The Message)
“It became a tradition for them, their children, and all future converts to remember these two days every year on the specified dates set down in the letter. These days are to be remembered and kept by every single generation, every last family, every province and city. These days of Purim must never be neglected among the Jews; the memory of them must never die out among their descendants.”
The context surrounding these verses in the Old Testament is the beautiful story of Queen Esther and her courage and careful planning to step out in faith for her people. As a result, the Jewish people still remember and celebrate “Purim” some 2,500 years later. That is a very long time to remember and keep a tradition alive! The Purim holiday is celebrated in various ways today—listening to the book of Esther in synagogues, sending food parcels and giving to charities, dressing up in costumes, eating festive meals, and celebratory parties and parades.
This recorded tradition was started by Queen Esther with specificity for adults and children alike. Purim was to be remembered for all generations. I believe this biblical principal for traditions and remembering can be applied with intentionality and purpose in our families today. My mother was a pundit in this skill. And I grew up learning from both of my parents that family bonds can solidify and values can form from one generation to the next. Step on the path you see in the beautiful picture on my homepage. In my upcoming blogs, let’s journey together as I share true family stories and ideas for creating traditions and making sweet memories. It would be my privilege to share some of your own traditions, stories, and family memories with my readers. Go to the Contact tab to submit!