Advent Day 12–To Tree or Not to Tree?

“To tree or not to tree?” That is the question I asked myself this year. My kids of course wanted me to put up the Christmas tree, but, none of them wanted to help. The kids are all older now, and I have been really busy. Maybe this would be the year that we wouldn’t have a Christmas tree.

Putting up the Christmas tree is a lot of work. It usually takes me all day and makes a huge mess. Inevitably, the lights don’t work. Furthermore, the cat hides in the tree. The dog knows the cat isn’t supposed to be in the tree. So she ends up messing up the lights and tinsel as she tries to get the cat out. The tree rattles and shakes; ornaments fall. And then, after just a few weeks, the ornaments and decorations have to be taken off the tree so that the tree can be taken apart and put into storage. Why do we even need a tree? Is putting one up really worth taking time out of my busy schedule?

I seriously thought about leaving the tree packed away this year, but as each day of December passed, the corner where the tree usually stands seemed emptier and emptier. I finally decided to drag everything out and start assembling it.

I may have grumbled a bit as I twisted hundreds of little branches into shape. I might have come close to having a melt-down when I realized on the fourth level of branches that I had somehow missed the very bottom level and would have to move all of the branches down. However, as I unwrapped the ornaments, I was reminded of special times and special people who had made an impact on my life.

Our tree is full of memories. Sam wanted to start a tradition by exchanging ornaments each year, but I thought it was silly. I felt really bad when he presented me with an ornament of a child on a sled for our first Christmas, and I didn’t have one for him. I bought him one later, but I think about that every year as I hang each ornament and our story unfolds on the tree.

The ornaments on our tree mark memorable occasions in our lives. There are some “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments that record when each of our four children were born. There is a “New House” ornament for the year we built a house in the country, and the new millennium is recognized on our tree with a time capsule (which never got filled because that was the same year that child number 4 was born, and we were pretty busy). The wooden candles remind me of the time Sam and I were served a volunteer appreciation dinner and given the wooden candles as a thank you. There are ornaments from my former Sunday School students, my friends and a secret pal from the ladies’ group I used to attend. Several of the ornaments were sent to us as a thank you for volunteering with Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse.

The ornaments on the tree remind me of people who have made an impact in my life. Some of the scratched up, glass ball ornaments belonged to my maternal grandmother who let me help her put the tree up. She used tinsel icicles on her tree, and sometimes we would scoot our feet across the carpet while holding an icicle so that the static electricity would shock my little sister. Some of the ornaments belong to my paternal grandmother who had a just simple table top tree but who made me feel so loved and special when I visited. There is a hand painted ornament that a family friend, Betty made for me when I was a child and a wooden nativity ornament that another friend brought to me after her trip to the Holy Land. The ball ornaments with the glittery gold stars and nativities are from a woman who took me under her wing and mentored me without me even realizing what she was doing. She was a true prayer warrior and sweet as could be. Our tree even displays a sock left behind by one of our son’s friends who we love like family.

Some of the most precious ornaments on our tree are the ones that my children made. Some of them are made with their handprints. Some of them have their photos and some have precious notes.

Every single ornament on our tree has a special meaning, and Christmas time is a good time to remember the special events and the people who have touched our lives. For it is through the special moments that we can see how God has been at work in our lives and through the people who are dear to us that we can experience God’s love for us.

So for at least another year, our tree stands tall in the corner. For at least another year I look at the ornaments and remember the people who helped God shape me. For at least another year, I see the bright lights in the darkness reminding me of Jesus, the Light of the World who came to take away my sin and give me peace with God.