Christmas Trees
Have you ever noticed the differences in Christmas trees?
Some are simple – others are ornate. Some are flocked – others are a beautiful evergreen. Some are real – some are artificial.
It seems Christmas trees are a very personal thing in our country. One person may have a designer tree full of gorgeous department store ornaments, ornate ribbons, and hundreds of lights. Truly a sight to see.
Others may prefer a simpler decoration – perhaps just lights and some tinsel. Or maybe all homemade decorations. There are trees with ornaments depicting our hobbies and memorializing our deceased loved ones. Some of us use garland, others use ribbons, some tinsel, and others pinecones. Trees run the gamut from truly country-style to high-end upscale fashion.
Yes, Christmas trees are a personal expression of ourselves. For us, our tree this year is one with multi-colored lights (I generally prefer clear, but am outnumbered by 3!) and decorations of all kinds. There are the beautiful ones my Mom bought for my sister and I a couple of years ago. There are ones the girls have made with no help from anyone. A few were purchased at the girls’ first or second Christmases. One is a photo ornament of my late father-in-law given to us by my sister-in-law last year. Perhaps the most sentimental to me are the ones that John has chosen for the girls each year. It is a special gift from him each year to his girls, and they all look forward to the tradition. There are puffs of white tulle in various places on the tree (my attempt at simulating “snow” – actually very cute!), wonderful large ribbons of varying colors and types of ribbon – all made from bows received on ornately-wrapped gifts in the past. Tucked in the tree in a few cozy spots are small teddy bears – remnants from a set of 12 we bought for Alexis when she was a toddler. She insisted on using the red beaded garland, so that encircles the tree, as well as a 4′ length of cranberry garland she made this year. With the exception of ONE – every ornament we have, I believe, is on the tree this year! And, to top it off, they are all on the front 2/3 of the tree! LOL….When I asked the girls if I could move a few to the back and rearrange a little – they both said, “NO!” So, the tree remains a little “front heavy.” Hopefully it will stand straight until Christmas!
The night our tree goes up, I always like to stay up after everyone goes to bed with the lights out and only the tree lit. It somehow really helps to put me in the Christmas spirit. This year was no different, and while I sat, God gave me this thought:
We (God’s children) are like Christmas trees.
How? Easy. We are all different. No two of us are exactly alike – we all come with different experiences (ornaments) and backgrounds (the tree itself). The tree itself represents the whole of our lives, and the lights reveal His presence. Like our individual Christmas trees are to us, we are all very special to Him, indeed.
He sees the absolute beauty in each ornament as it adds something unique to our lives that no one else has. He put it there! The ornaments of our lives are used by the Lord to shape our hearts and bring us closer to Him, while showing an outward sign of what He has done for us, and can do for others. The ornaments are one way for us to show the love of Christ.
He is the Light that illuminates our trees and shines so that the holes where ornaments are missing, or broken ornaments are placed, can be seen. Clear or multi, the lights reveal empty spaces and magnify mistakes. The Light of Christ reveals unrepented sin, and therefore, the lights are the most important of all the elements.
The tree itself was grown and handpicked specifically for us – God knew the exact tree: shape, size, type, flocked or not – and He knows why that tree was chosen. Sometimes we are disappointed in His choice of trees, but we shouldn’t be – #1 – we can’t change it. Our past is our past and our background is what made us who we are today. And #2, God has reasons far beyond our comprehension for choosing the background we have had. He can and does use any circumstance for good, and for His purposes.
So, you see, your Christmas tree can remind you of more than the birth of Christ this year, although I am in no way taking that away. I merely want to add that your Christmas tree can remind you, if you allow God to use it that way, of what He has brought you in your life. Of what He has brought you out of in your life. And when you look at the top of the tree – the star, the angel – let that be a reminder to know where He is taking you in your life.
I hope that after reading this, you look at your Christmas tree a little differently. And I hope that you spend a little time in the Light of your tree, looking to the One who decorated it so beautifully.
Merry Christmas everyone.
The Christmas Gift
I wrote this originally in my personal journal (don’t you feel like a special friend, now?) as a Valentines poem. But I have been wanting to share it with you. I changed a few words so it pertains to Christmas…hope you like it…let me know.
The Christmas Gift
Lord, I have forgotten Your ways
I haven’t read Your Word in too many days
I have missed the mark time and time again
Who am I to say that You are my friend?
But, Lord, in Your grace I want to grow
And I’ll need Your help, this I know.
To find my way back to Your Throne
This is a journey I can’t make alone.
Lord, I have called upon You only when in trouble
Perhaps that is why lately, all I do is stumble.
I’ve cursed and I’ve cried, I’ve felt I could die
But, Lord, You never left. You were always at my side.
You’ve never forsaken me, you’ve always been there
In the morning, at night, and when I say the occasional prayer.
You’re there when I sleep and there when I cry
You’re there when I slip, though I sometimes wonder why.
I wonder how a Lord so sovereign and good
Can still love a sinner like me – I’m not so sure I could.
But You do Lord, and I’m blessed
For of every gift in life, Jesus is the best.
So, Lord, this Christmas Day, I want to tell You
That whatever it takes, that’s what I’ll do
I’‘ll do what’s needed to get back that fire.
Lord, I just ask You to teach me to desire
The things that are good, righteous, and just
And to never lose faith in Your love, but to trust.
To trust in Your provision, Your love, and Your promise
For You o Lord, cannot be dishonest.
Lord, You have my heart from now until forever
I will love You Lord, and not lose faith, no never.
So, Lord, be with me as on this new journey I start
And Lord, please accept this Christmas gift – my heart.
Something funny…at least I think it is…
I thought I would throw something on here a little different….this is something I wrote one day for fun, just to write….it describes a desk I was using at the time…and I happen to think its pretty funny stuff, but, I could be a tad bit biased.
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The top shelf holds lots of junk – packets of label paper, graph paper, photo CDs, blank CDs, and my trusty stapler. Actually, the stapler isn’t all that trusty – it never staples the left side completely. It must be in cahoots with the dust bunnies. Behind the stapler and blank CDs are three software programs the girls got for Christmas – Alex has tried to play hers once, but they keep shutting off in the middle of the game, so I assume that the dust bunnies have worked up some master plan to crash my system. It seems they are off to a good start. On that shelf I also have the 5-page East Texas phone book. I also have a solitary spiral notebook, one of hundreds I have bought for who knows what reason. Another pad of graph paper (what am I? A math nerd??), some cute printer paper, a purple metal ruler, an ugly pen, and an open pack of Sharpies.
Above the shelves sits my cheap DELL printer – currently out of commission since it is nearly out of black ink. It is on, but I don’t know why….no paper, no ink. Next to the printer is where the worst cordless phone EVER resides – the battery in this phone lasts all of about 20 minutes. Maybe it’s mad because it too, is covered in those dusty little rodents. In front of the printer is my newest purchase of spiral notebooks – 5 blue ones to be exact. I bought them because a book said to. No really, I’m reading a, well, two actually, books about writing a novel and one of them said – “be sure to have at least 5 notebooks – I prefer the spiral bound type,” so, of course, I ran out to get them right away. And the blue, well, it’s my favorite color. Had I gotten red, John may have thought they were his Valentine’s gift.
It seems the dust bunnies are everywhere! On my desk in front of me, I have my mouse (not related to the dust bunnies – they fight like the Hatfields and McCoys), a half-full glass of milk (always the optimist), and lots of other stuff. It’s a given that my rodent covered monitor lives here. Currently residing there are a few radical groups of rebellious staples from the untrusty stapler. These happen to be red ones. They were John’s last Valentine’s gift.
If you were here you would also notice that I have a copy of How to Write, & Sell your First Novel by Oscar Collier with Frances Spatz Leighton. (Told you I was reading.) But, there’s more…a booklet of Pass-Along Promises sits between the monitor and my book. Atop the desk are also a folded $2 bill, a hinge paper clip, 2 coasters (one holding my milk), my current month’s budget sheet (more like a doomsday report), my digital camera, a box of Aleve Cold & Sinus, a box of Tylenol Sinus, 3 debit cards (one is no longer active), a steno notebook, and a flea comb for cats.
I haven’t even begun to tell you about the keyboard tray…..
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So, ummm….still want to read this blog? LOL!
PS – I have a new desk that my honey built for me, now!
