Irrespective of your religion and ethnic affiliation, the holidays have a special impact on our lives. If you are a true believer, agnostic or atheist, you must recognize that people of all countries acknowledge, now for many centuries, something that is more powerful and bigger than all of us. I see the celebration of the holidays as a continuation of a chain that we inherit from our parents and pass onto our children and grandchildren.
Therefore, the holiday celebrations are significant. Your participation in them, your sharing with relatives and friends, and your creating and repeating rituals with your children all build strength to the chain that you pass onto your children. You are helping to establish within your children a strength of identity and culture that they will remember and celebrate with their children. In turn, with the passing of our parents, we as the grandparents get to affirm these celebrations with our adult children and grandchildren.
My point is simply that when people split up via a divorce or, if not married, via a permanent separation, it is important not to forget who you are. It is important for your children to be reminded who they are. It is important to your parents to remind them that you remember and will carry on the rituals, be they religious or not.
In our holiday season, we want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukah, and a joyous celebration of all other holidays culminating in December and January. We wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.
PhilipJByers
Philip J. Byers, Attorney 