The Stockings Are Hung (12/23/2025)

One of the first things we do when we start to decorate for Christmas is hang our stockings – one for every person in the family. When Kenneth and I first started our family, our many homes over the first 20 years didn’t have a fireplace or mantle, so we hung our stockings on the stair banister. When we finally had a home with a fireplace mantle, we decided to stick with our earlier tradition of using the stair banister. And that’s what we are still doing – why break a good tradition?

The stockings are daily reminders to me of some of the most primary reasons I have for daily gratitude, my family. We have been blessed, Kenneth and I, with children, grandchildren, and partners for our children and grandchildren. They provide a visual of how our blessings have multiplied over the years and how the LORD has been with us in every generation.

During Advent, I use the stockings as an instrument of prayer. I touch each stocking, I speak of my gratitude for the owner of the stocking, and I pray for that person – for their hopes, for help with their struggles, for the courage to fully use their gifts. We will eventually fill each one with small gifts, but to me, their main purpose is to visually remind me of family for whom I am grateful and the LORD’s role in each of their lives.

This advent activity helps me daily to prepare for Christmas, for our family and faith celebration because Christmas at our home is both – a celebration of faith and of family. Standing daily at the banister, touching each stocking, praying for each member, feeling my love increase as well as my faith, I prepare for our celebration. And I know with all my heart that we will celebrate together – my family and the LORD. We will all be here.

Perhaps it is my “Catholicity” that is behind my making our family stockings symbols that lead me deeper into the very essence of life – love – love of the LORD and love for one another.  I’m not sure where the idea initially came from, but why break a good tradition?

As we make our way closer and closer to Christmas, to the celebration of our Savior’s birth among us, to the celebration of the Heavenly Father’s gift of His only-begotten Son for our life and for love of us, let us find meaningful ways to celebrate the very essence of Christmas – love – love of our LORD and love of one another.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.