Do YOU Have This Moment?

Family Tradition.

Those two words have the power to resonate feelings, sounds, pictures, and warmth into your heart. (Maybe even a grumble or two for those that aren't quite old enough to appreciate a family tradition.....just yet.)

As I was reading about family traditions, one family expert said that traditions are the "we always" of families..... Try it: We always ______ for our ______ celebration. Can't you think of countless "we always" situations for your family?

To further the discussion from Wikipedia: "Active family traditions and meaningful participation in them help families to avoid what the social scientists call “entropy”. In physical science, the term entropy means the tendency of the physical system to lose energy and coherence over a period of time, like a gas dissipating until it is all but gone. An “entropic family” is one that loses its sense of emotional closeness because members neglect the family’s inner life and community ties."

There are many Harder family traditions that are hard to imagine now, without Chris. One of the Gerhard & Anna Harder (grandma & grandpa) family songs that they sing at almost every family gathering is "We Have This Moment." The most poignant part (all of the verses are great) being the Chorus:

We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch
as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.


I have to tell you that they have many great traditions...and songs that they sing as a group. Sometimes I glance at Esther's husband, Jason, just to make sure he doesn't really know the song very well either.....haha. (We learn them a little better each time!) The verses of the song talk about enjoying every moment with your children, enjoying the seasons of nature and life, and taking time for your friends and family - because you always have THIS moment, but future one's are uncertain. I can only imagine the array of feelings when the family gathers next...and this family tradition is carried on. I think it's beautiful that the family has truly lived this song - and has enjoyed every moment together, and has had these traditions. Chris will be with us in spirit on those days, and smiling on us from Heaven.


We grieve for Chris every day. We pray for Jodi, Dakota, Mom & Dad - for their strength and peace every day. I think of another song that came out in the early 90's. It's called "If You Could See Me Now." It is about someone that has died and is now in heaven....walking streets of gold, standing tall and whole, he's seen the face of Jesus - and all of his pain has been erased. But, one of the final lines of the song is the best.... "If you could see me now, you wouldn't want me to ever leave this perfect place, if you could only see me now."


We all want Chris back, so bad..... but I have to believe, we have to believe, that it's true, if we could see him, we wouldn't want him to leave that perfect place..... What are some of your favorite, most memorable, or not so favorite family traditions?