A Tradition Worth Passing On
posted on December 18th, 2009 / by Sandy Jobe / 25 CommentsThis is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s always the busiest but the most memorable. For some reason, I have always struggled with depression during the holidays. I’ve never been able to understand why the depression comes when I have such a precious family, a wonderful home, the dearest of friends and yet the dark place in my mind where I have to literally choose to step over. Several years ago I realized the sadness I felt was greatly due to those around me who were alone, experiencing grief, walking through financial difficulties or other challenges. I was picking up on their circumstances. Through this I learned that if I would reach out to someone else, I would in turn be blessed. Thus the tradition began!
Being a southern girl, I love tradition. Purposefully making sure I had all my preparations in place where on Christmas Eve, we could visit a local candlelight service, and then drive around with fogged over windows admiring the beautiful lights in nearby neighborhoods. That tradition started years ago, when as a child during the Christmas season, our family would pile up in the station wagon, usually with a picnic that my dad prepared for us, that always included something homemade, Pimento cheese or egg salad sandwiches and some type of cookie. (Yes, those of you that laugh at me because I always insist on something homemade, I came by it naturally) Dad was a cook in the U.S. Army and served in WWII as well as the Korean War, his love for cooking was passed right on to me. I am so grateful. I will never forget the year he was unemployed, yet we never knew the struggles he faced to provide for our family until he landed a new job. We never missed a meal. It might have been pinto beans with Dodgers (hot water corn bread, that to this day, none of us can make like he did) but we always had something on the table.
Every year, we would drive down in the Turtle Creek district in Dallas. There was a huge house, with a life size Santa on the porch. The Stuffed Santa held a basket, and children would run up to the porch to find a bucket of nickels and a sign that said “Take One” Merry Christmas. Wow, I couldn’t believe someone had a huge basket of nickels to give away! As the years went by, the nickels became peppermints, but it was still just as special. What sweet memories of learning at an early age to always include others. Every year as far back as I remember, Dad would make miniature fruitcakes to give as gifts to neighbors and close friends. My palate never adapted to the taste of the fruit cake, but he would spend hours chopping that candied fruit, nuts and preparing to be a blessing to someone that might need a little something to know they were thought of during the holidays. (I always loved Bill Cosby’s statement that there is really only one fruitcake in the world, it just gets passed from family to family) Of course I knew that wasn’t true because over the years I watched my dad make hundreds of those cakes. I wonder if there wasn’t an impartation to me to always remember others. How I wish he were still here for me to thank him for that. My Parents were always such givers.
After I married and had children of my own, it was important to me to pass down these traditions. When the kids were younger we always did something as a family to share Christmas with others. Whether it was baking and decorating cookies for widows, (or anyone on their heart, everyone got to choose who they gave to) delivering blankets or gloves to the homeless, we would drive downtown and just hand them out the window. When Kari was 6, we went caroling with her at a senior citizen facility, we had purchased tiny tubes of hand lotion, Kari was so excited to take her turn and go into a room to give a tube to a lady, however, the lady yelled, “Get out of here, little girl”. The look on Kari’s face was one of total terror, yet, she didn’t back away, every year she wanted to know what our Christmas project would be, hoping we would go to a different place where the people were happy.
Another year we made sandwiches to deliver to the homeless and Kristen, my sweet second child was so distraught when someone screamed at her, “I want pastrami, I don’t like turkey”. She wanted us to go buy pastrami so he could have his favorite. We had to share with her that he needed to be grateful for what was given. Maybe we should have tried to ease her young heart and get him some pastrami. We still talk about that memory to this day. It was a sweet lesson, of how it’s a heart issue. I can’t help but tear up every time I remember how years later in High school she served as an aide for the disabled students. She was assigned to a blind student, and in striking up conversation after the holidays, she asked him about his Christmas. He said, “We had a nice meal”. She knew he was hoping for a new walking stick that folded, so even though Christmas was over, she got all of us involved to help contribute financially and had to have the school administration get his height because they have to be specially ordered. She then waited with great anticipation for the call from the Lighthouse for the blind saying that her order had arrived. The joy she experienced giving that student a new walking cane will be in our minds and hearts forever.
Several years ago, we participated in “adopting” a boy from a project we were doing at our local church. We gave Caleb, our third child and only son, the list and a budget and let him make all of the selections for the child. He came home so excited, but repented for being overly excited and going over budget. He said, “I’ll pay the difference, I just had so much fun, it was hard to stop”. It was precious that he was willing to give so another could have a beautiful Christmas.
We are far from being the perfect family by any means and have had our share of what we call “Come to Jesus meetings”, but our kids have learned to be givers. Whether it’s participating in the Christmas for the Single Parents, providing groceries for Holiday dinners, serving at the local soup kitchen or Gospel mission. It’s not always convenient to add something else to a busy schedule, but the memories of giving and sharing with others will last a lifetime.  Even a $10 grocery gift card can provide a meal for someone or a small family. I will always remember the words to a song we sang at our church “Little is much when God is in it”. If it’s in your heart to share, you’ll make provision. If we ever get too busy to care for others, we are too busy!
Every year now I make some homemade candies and distribute them to the neighbors, mail carrier, and a few others. Most of the time there will only be 6 pieces per family (2-3 pieces for singles). I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be a huge portion. It leaves them wanting more and allows me to have 15-20 small gifts to give away. It’s not costly and so rewarding to remember the real meaning of Christmas where God gave us the best gift of all.
This year, our immediate family will make sack lunches for the homeless. We’ll have our Christmas together then load up and go play “Santa” and give the lunches away. The sack will include a sandwich (peanut butter and jelly will keep for days) an orange, a small bag of chips, a small bottle of water, a homemade treat of some type, a pair of gloves, socks or a hat and a little note card reminding them they were thought of during this time of year.
Our big family Christmas includes about 35 of us. We usually bring 4-5 wrapped gifts each and play bingo. This year, we are buying suggested items from a list provided by the local USO office that soldiers being deployed overseas can get things they might have forgotten or be in need of. They allow them to select a book and record a special message for their own children or nieces and nephews at home and attach the CD with the book and mail it to their families. Other items include socks, eye drops, batteries, razors, prepaid phone cards and other assorted things. We will collect everything our family brings and will get it to the local USO area at the DFW airport.
Whether you struggle with the whole “Over Commercialized Christmas Scene” or maybe even fight a little sadness or depression during the holidays. Why not make this year different by seeing what those around you are in need of. Maybe there is nothing in your budget to add one more thing, but anyone can budget their time and find some to give away to make the Christmas of another memorable. Just think, raking leaves to tidy a widow’s yard will mean the world to her and not cost you a dime. This Holiday season, step outside your comfort zone and change someone’s world, at least for a moment! And then maybe it will become a tradition; one worth passing down!
Here’s the recipe for one of my traditional Christmas treats for sharing.
Peanut Butter Truffles
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick melted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3 cups Rice Krispies
Chocolate for dipping (I use Wilton light chocolate dipping discs)
Cream the peanut butter and butter together, add the powdered sugar, stir in
rice krispies. Make into about 60 -75 small balls, roll in the melted
chocolate (Don’t baptize them) Place on a non stick surface and allow to dry
at room temperature, store in airtight container until you package them to
give away.
Enjoy this season of Giving!
Sandy has been married for 30 years to her husband Mark. They have three grown children Kari, Kris and her husband Michael and their son Caleb who all live in Grapevine Texas. Sandy enjoys baking, mentoring young moms and is all about the family table.
Thanks, Sandy, for the inspiration! It’s been a hard month for me and you’ve helped me look past my own navel.
Love you and your family SO much!
Thanks, Destiny in Bloom for posting such inspirational words. I’ve never read a post that didn’t touch my heart!
Sandy, you are a perfect picture of the cutest little southern Momma, who wants to feed anyone who sets foot in her door! I love it!!:) Your stories have inspired me more than you know. My husband and I love to give, but more importantly, we want to pass down the desire of giving to others to our children. It’s the little things in life that make the biggest impacts on our hearts and through that we can give all the glory to God.
Thank you for taking the time to write this amazing story.
~Maree
Sandy,
Thank you for sharing your family traditions and for choosing to step over that depression. What a testimony! From the very beginning of our lil family we have always made it about giving and not receiving. And every Christmas has been so extremely special. We make gingerbread houses and give them to a different set of friends or family every year. Traditions are so much fun for the little ones and for the adults to pass down. Merry Christmas Sandy!!!
Being a perfectionist I tend to get way to caught up into coming up with a grand plan. So sometimes that means my plan never gets off the ground. Thank you for reminding me of the practical, small and even free ways that I can bless someone and provide my children with a opportunity to serve, give and love on others.
Thanks Sandy for sharing your heart and reminding all of us what this season of the year is really all about! Your family, immediate and large, are all treasures in His Kingdom and chips off Walter’s block! I can’t wait to see how the Father will use me this year!
thank you so much for sharing Sandy, I am used to going home to California and celebrating with my crazy family but Jason and I are learning to make our own traditions. It’s still a work in progress, but we’ll get there someday!
Sandy, watching you and your family is seeing love in action. You are such an inspiration to me and a real picture of how God loves us extravagantly.
Love you guys!!
Sandy, I so enjoyed reading your post. I have had some of your yummy cooking and heard about how good your recipes are from others! I remember when Stacy brought home some of your homemade candy…so good. I miss your dad and loved hearing your memories of him at Christmas time and other times! I love family traditions! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thanks, Sandy. This was very timely for me. It was 2 years ago yesterday that I lost my dad and I’ve been a bit melancholy and on the verge of tears all week. Your words have encouraged and inspired me. (I’m also craving peanut butter right now!)
Love you!
I love cooking as well. Love the way you all are being a blessing to others in the way you enjoy this gift that God gave you. Love it! Love it! Love it!
Merry Christmas to the Jobe Family!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing so many wonderful Christmas traditions! I love your heart and the way you have taught your children to love others!
Sandy, my friend! You inspire me!!!!!! Really! What a great blog. I’m so glad you contributed. And you are a good writer! I love reading about your precious memories of your father. We, your friends, are SO blessed by all of your homemade goodies. I am so glad that he passed that down to you.
Thank you for sharing and for making me rethink ways I can help others during this season.
Love you!
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve been experiencing sadness during the holidays for the past couple years, but the reality of the situations you’ve shared have given me hope and joy for this coming season. So, thank you.
Sandy, this was so inspiring. You’re right–it is so easy to get so busy during the Christmas season that we forget to include others. I love how you made giving to others a family tradition, and birthed a heart of giving in your children in the process. I definitely want to do the same. Now if I could only learn how to cook….
Although we’ve never met, I have heard such sweet things about you and your heart from ladies I know who attend your home group. I hope to one day be able to be a part of that group when space allows.
I loved this blog because I, too, share your love for traditions, especially those surrounding the Christmas season. There are special traditions that I have passed down to my children simply because I so loved them when I was growing up. Traditions bring a sense of belonging because they give families something to look forward to that they can count on each year.
Thanks for sharing your heart and family traditions with us.
PS – Does one just mix all the ingredients together and then shape into balls for your truffle recipe?
What a sweet article! I love Christmas so much because my parents taught me giving was the reason! I hope to instill the same in my boys and your words here have inspired me to teach more and give more!
Sandy,
I love this! You are so awesome and inspiring. I have known you for a long time but didn’t know about all that yo and your family do for others at Christmas until I broke my ankle last year. Everyone she was Jesus to me and my family like you can’t even begin to know!!! Not only did she make her family their Christmas goodies but she doubled it and brought the same to us WOW What a blessing I start to tear up now thinking about that time. Thank you Sandy and have a blessed Christmas. And I am coming over to make divinity I haven’t forgottn.
Love you
Kim
How Inspiring!! I LOVE all of this!! You had great ideas that I am taking with me – love you guys!
Your heart and wisdom shine through…thank you for this reminder how important the touches in life are & the need to be in tune to when you are called to reach out. God bless you and all you touch this season!
thank you so much for sharing! I love tradition, especially because we didn’t have much tradition growing up- I want some of that in my own family! And I love all the ideas you have given about ways to help out. There are so many great ones! And thanks for the truffle recipe…sounds yummy! Thanks again! Celeste
Oh I loved this blog Sandy!! This is our very first year to be on our own as a family and my husband and I have been talking for weeks about what traditions we are going to start! I am SO inspired by you and your giving heart. Thank you!
So good! You have challenged me to look for creative giving oppertunities and to grow my children up to do the same. Thank you for the inspiration.
Sandy,
Thank you so much for writing for DIB, sharing you family with us and inspiring us to our own traditions. What I love is that what seemed a simple tradition over the years became a family legacy that none of you will ever forget:) You are so precious to my heart. I love to watch the way you love to love the woman (and actually all the people) in your life. How the way you give gifts … it’s like they are marinated in love. It’s simple amazing!
I’ve purposed, I’m gonna make those truffles;)
Great Love!
~Ris
Sweet Sandy…what a precious reminder during such a busy time! I just love how God made you
I love even more that you “splash” that love of giving to all those who have the joy of knowing you!
Merry CHRISTmas to you and your sweet family. Love you!!
This hung with me all thru Christmas, I have shared the story many times to others and the images you put forth on this article touched me greatly. I could feel it, see it and the reminder made my Christmas this year. thanks so much for sharing!