Subject line: Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as….
Here it is. End of month 1! I’ve been meditating a lot on the word you gave me for this month: tradition. And the Fiddler on the Roof joke. Anyways, I went into this month expecting tradition to look a very specific way. But it didn’t. It look me a couple days to see tradition with new eyes.
Here’s why I didn’t see tradition at first:
All the girls, for the most part, speak impeccable English and live a moderately western life.
Here’s why I quickly refuted that logic:
First of all, they know English because their mom truly wants the best life for them. She wants them to be as educated as possible in order to avoid the painful life that could very easily be reality.
Tradition.
the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation,especially by word of mouth or by practice:
2.something that is handed down:
It’s tradition for the girls to only eat sweets on each other’s birthday and it’s tradition for some of that cake to be smashed into the beholders face. Its tradition for the older girls to drink coffee before church. It’s tradition to get balleadas after dance class. It’s tradition for the girls to eat HUGE pancakes on Christmas morning. It’s tradition for the girls to celebrate Halloween, even though the majority of Honduras has very negative feelings about it. It’s tradition for the girls to volunteer for prayer. It’s likely the girls will fight. Every day. It’s also likely the girls will love each other. Every day.
Tradition
In the area we stayed in, such things as prostitution, rape, and murder are, to put it lightly, not uncommon. It’s tradition to have huge gatherings at local futbol games and to have celebrations afterwards. It’s tradition to set off fireworks. Every. Single. Night.
Tradition.
Team Rover has a unique culture that has been built with delicate and intentional hands. It’s tradition to have dance parties in the kitchen. It’s tradition to cherish rose, bud, thorns over the dinner table. We can always count on Kat and myself waking up hours before anyone else. Or Morgan loving bro time. Or Ashley giving fresh and highly needed perspective. Or Paige to say something for a segment of “Words from Wisconsin”. Or Matti to absolutely not hearing what you said correctly. “I’m deaf”.
Its tradition to walk to D & D to get running water. It’s tradition we pull each other’s weight. We respect quiet time. It’s tradition to laugh together, even when someone doesn’t feel like laughing. To love together, even when love hurts. To cry together, even when the other isn’t sad. It’s tradition to empathize and grow together. As one.
Tradition.
Thanks for the word. I can’t wait for next months. Sending lots of love, light, and tradition your way.
Love,
GG
