Christmas Memories and Traditions | Julio Arriola

This week on RonnieFloyd.com, Pastor and several Cross Church staff members are sharing their Christmas memories and traditions. Today, we hear from Julio Arriola, Global Worship Pastor. You can read more from Pastor and other Cross Church staff members about their Christmas traditions at RonnieFloyd.com now thru December 24.

I grew up in very small town close to the City of Guasave, Sinaloa, in the Northwest part of Mexico. With a population of about 500 people, you would think there was nothing interesting to do, but as a matter of fact, it was fun living there. There was no need to ask for permission to go out to play after school; we basically spent most of the day outside. We had cows, a horse, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and dogs. We always found ways to have good times as a family, especially on Christmas Eve.

Even tough I didn’t grow up in a Christian environment, I have great Christmas memories. Our relatives lived around us: our grandma, uncles, aunts and MANY cousins. My favorite part of Christmas was seeing all my family together, surrounded by lots of food, as well as plenty of laughter and dancing. If there was any kind of problem between family members that had arisen during the year, that was the time to talk it out, forgive each other, and enjoy the fellowship. Oh, how I miss those times!

Now as a believer, I can more fully grasp what Christmas is truly about. We love all the preparation that goes into Christmas and how people seem more open to hearing about Christ. We love any time we get to see people come to Christ, but during this time of year, it is especially sweet.

We also treasure the fellowship with friends and family during the Christmas season. Carla and I teach our children the importance of spending Christmas Day with grandparents and close relatives. We have driven overnight on Christmas Eve just to be with them on this special day. Our kids haven’t spent a Christmas without a big gathering of family members and friends. They have learned that on Christmas, we are all together, with lots of food and lots of laughter as we celebrate Jesus’ birth and exchange Christmas presents. And as we go through the years, we continue to add not only to our fun memories of Christmases past, but also new traditions for Christmases yet to come.

Julio Arriola
Global Worship Pastor, CrossChurch
@arriolajc