The kids were with Dad and the house was quiet and I found myself admiring our Christmas tree. There’s so much to be told within it’s branches, the outline of our lives. I’m one of those people who likes ornaments that have meaning. I always loved decorating the Christmas tree with my mom and as we pulled out each ornament, there was always a memory or story behind it.
I look at ours now and it’s the first year we don’t have any room for “balls” or “fillers”. There’s “Our First Christmas Together 2003” from the year we started dating and a Chinese crested dog for our first dog, Punk, who is no longer with us. We also have a boxer for Boomer, our dog who died last Christmas. Callie has her own ornament that looks like her. Cardinals which represent the memory of my BL Nan. A red church I gave my Grammy. We have a few “Our First Christmas 2005” from the year we were married and “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments for Peyton and Jayden. We traced their hands last year and decorated mittens and this year we all colored wooden ornaments. Last year we added a gray kitten for Meeka. There’s an icicle with a snowmen on top that my Aunt Joni put on a gift for me a few years ago and one of my favorites, a wooden nativity scene my mom gave us from her new church. A fire truck Uncle Landon gave Peyton two years ago and a mother/daughter ornament I got after Christmas when Jayden was born. So far this year we’ve added a black bear, for the camping trip when the bear came too close and a snowman with Marino’s name and this years date for the year we started sponsoring him. This is only a few examples, there are very many more!
Our tree hasn’t always been so full of these special ornaments. We used to have balls and bows and even ribbon. As the year’s have passed we’ve taken them away and this is the first year they didn’t make it out of the box! There’s something so special about a Christmas tree. I love our ornaments, all representing a special memory or person we hold close to our hearts.
I have realized how closely our lives resemble a Christmas tree. In the beginning we had a small tree I set up with mostly balls and bows, it was a beautiful start but it didn’t have all the meaning and memory. Two Christmas’s later, Randy and I were married and truly setting out on our lives together and each year since we’ve added the special ornaments and taken off the empty, meaningless ones. Take time to read Colossians 3, it tells us about living as those made alive in Christ.
Verses 5-8 represent the balls and bows in our lives and orders us to take them off:
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immortality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry…You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Verses 6-13 represent the special, keepsake ornaments and tells us to put them on:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another…”
Verse 14 represent the lights we need to turn on that spread throughout our tree and light it up bringing it to its full splendor:
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Verse 15 represents the angel or star on top of our tree that completes it:“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Verses 16-17 brings together the moment we step back and look at our tree:
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed , do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I wish you all a “tree full of special ornaments”, lit up with love and topped with an angel of peace. As you admire your tree, may you remember the true meaning of Christmas by sharing God’s love and His truth, praising Him for the life He brings!
Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!
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