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Ministry Family Traditions

By Jeanne Mayo

Jeanne Mayo serves as the youth pastor at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. Recently we interviewed Jeanne to see how she balances her demanding ministry schedule without losing site of the reason for the season. She shares practical ideas that have both inspired and kept her family focused on the Christ in Christmas.

My husband and I have found that family traditions anchor us and our sons during the eventful Christmas season. December is a busy month for a youth pastor and pastor’s spouse. Christmas plays and youth group parties keep me busy. But despite all the activities, I determined a long time ago, “My family will not get emotional leftovers.”

When my boys were young, we started what the family now considers a “sacred” tradition. I wrapped a big box in gold paper and attached a gold bow and tag addressed to Jesus from Mom, Dad, Josh and Justin. The box became so special to our family that during moves to new homes, the box was personally carried by one of us; packers were not allowed to handle it. Every year before we open our gifts, we each write a dated letter to Jesus reflecting on the past year, what we’re grateful for, and what we personally want to present to Jesus. The letters are kept in the box. Reading letters from previous years helps us remember our journey and provides a sense of grounding and accountability.

Years ago our family also took time to write the “Mayo Family Creed,” declaring ten core beliefs which we hold deeply . For example, “We are the masters of our own attitudes.” Each one of us signed the creed that Christmas, and every year since, a copy of the creed has been at the Christmas dinner table. During some particularly tough holiday seasons, the creed has reminded us of our core beliefs and inspired us as a family.

Our family maintains several fun and meaningful traditions. For example, we have a tradition of eating a Christmas breakfast late on Christmas Eve night, often after a late church service. Then we pile in the car to look at lights. On Christmas morning, we celebrate communion as a family. We enjoy fondue for our Christmas meal, placing votive candles at each place setting. Under the candle is the name of a family member. Before the meal, each person pauses to say why that person has been a gift to them that year. Then gifts are opened by candlelight and music. Sometimes presents have been exchanged with special meaning known only to us. The gifts symbolized what a family member taught the others during a difficult time, highlighting one of my signature themes, “Pain with Purpose.”

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