O Christmas Tree

2018 Farewell

It is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen in my life. I can't really help that it was mine. It was!

The tree came to be ours somewhere around 1997 or so. I think we got it on clearance right before Christmas that year. The reason I really remember that is because as I recall, we were in the early stages of  designing and building our second and LAST parade home. Life was a bit crazy, but we fortunately happened upon this deal of a tree.

2014

So, for the next many years, the house was decorated at Christmas time with this beautiful tree. I would be less than honest if I said, 1: I put the tree up yearly and 2: I decorated the tree yearly.
The reason those would be false statements is because I chose not to put up a tree several times due to my work schedule or our holiday plans. The other reason is because at one point in time, I know this sounds a bit crazy, but we hired someone to decorate our house for Christmas. Thus, I did not put it up every year. But, I put it up often.

This tree was work, it assembled by putting each branch in its proper hole after shaping each branch out of the box. I cannot even tell you how tall the tree was, but is was sufficiently tall. I know my mom came over several times and help shape the branches for me. Each branch was color coded with paint on the metal part that in time eventually wore off. I had to create a new method of marking the branches. I found various colors of duct tape and that along with twist ties worked great. As I assembled the tree from the bottom, I strung the lights too. This tree was created long before pre-lit trees, so each year the lights would get strung. I collected ornaments over the years which were gold, red, purple and gold wire ribbon. An angel topped the tree.

Over the years, I purchased other trees to put up in other places in my house, so even if the big tree wasn't up, we usually managed to have at least a tree up. In 2010 we opted not to put any decorations up, for this I am still very thankful, and if you want to know why, you'll have to read the blog from that year.

This year, I started the season with the thought that it was a good year to only put up the smaller tree. I had nearly resolved that the big tree would be up one last time, maybe next year, and then it would be retired. But, as the season got closer and I had moved some furniture in my living room, I realized the empty spot would be perfect for the big tree. So, I decided, this is the year that the tree is put up and this is the year the tree is retired. I committed to getting it out of my house as soon as the season was over. It had brought us years of pleasure, and it was time to move on...besides, it was a beast to put up and that was getting to me.

2016

So, up it went. It sat a few days undecorated once it was finally completely assembled. Lights were on and working fine. Angel went to the trash can because I noticed she had some melting spots near the lights. I figured a fire was not really the desired look. We went and purchased a new star and promptly returned it when it decided to only stay on for one night before dying. We found a white star tree topper for a good deal and bought some gold spray paint and completed the tree with that star and the ornaments that adorned the tree all of these years. The tree was BEAUTIFUL; too beautiful. I sat in the living room and admired the beauty of this tree, I took pictures, I laid on the floor and took pictures and continued to admire how beautiful it had become. I picked up ornaments several times that the cats had decided looked better on the floor than the tree. I didn't let that stop me from my next thought, which I actually spoke in words.

"Jim, I am keeping the tree. I cannot say good-bye to it yet. It is way too pretty to be retired. Change of plans." And in true male fashion, he said, "___________."

I had the lights on a timer to stay on until about 2 am. I wanted to make sure the tree would be on when I got home from work each night. That night, I was not working and went to bed at a normal time. Later on, I couldn't sleep and decided to get up rather than toss and turn. I opened the door from out bedroom to the living room and much to my dismay, all but one string of lights was out. Horror of horrors! My beautiful tree was not as beautiful, and all this meant was more work to make it right.

So, the decision was made. The tree would leave. If I had to fix it, I may as well put that energy into taking it down and selling it. So, since I had some great pictures of it, I put it on Marketplace and it sold. I undecorated it, kept some of the most sentimental ornaments, and sent it on its way to a new home.

That is the story of the tree.

Christmas

As I ready my house for Christmas, and wonder with each step I take why I am bothering, I think of what it must be like to not have a complete understanding of the holiday. You see, it is very commercialized, if you hadn't noticed. There are many who ramp up the excitement for the holiday and push down profusely the true meaning of what we are celebrating. Why? What causes us to be so over the top excited about a day and so under the bottom when it comes to the true meaning?

So, I do get caught up in the excitement of the season, but I really must not let this one pass without saying something about the reason we celebrate. Christmas is an exciting time, but you see, it is not my absolute favorite holiday. That spot is reserved for the real meaning on Christmas, which comes on Easter.

It all started in a garden. In Genesis 3, Satan-the Deceiver-had a plan. His goal was to make sure that years and years later, people would be caught up in his plan so much, they would miss the true message. He has done a good job of fooling many, but he does not have the final word. God's plan was better, but it came with a price. God gave laws to man, Moses received the Ten Commandments and then we read about many laws given to the Jews regarding just about everything you can imagine. We tend to speed read through this part of the Bible because quite honestly, it is overwhelming, boring, and really doesn't apply to what we do now. But why did God give so many laws? Because he knew that we would never be able to keep them all. We need a sacrifice to remove the sin or the breaking of the rules. That sacrifice came in the Old Testament in the form of animals. Sheep, lambs, goats, birds. It got quite bloody and gross and I cannot imagine the smell of the blood that covered the altar. Not so pleasant a thought.

But then, in the fullness of time, as in, when God knew it was right, he sent a baby. Not just any baby, one born of a virgin. One whose birth was prophesied of hundreds of years earlier. God not only caused the miracle of the birth, but he actually used ungodly people to fulfill this prophecy. The prophet said the baby would be born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph didn't even live there. However, God used Caesar Augustus, a egomaniac who thought himself so important that he needed to count how many people he was ruling over. Otherwise, Mary and Joseph would have had no reason to leave Nazareth to go to Judea, to the city of Bethlehem. They were demanded to go there because Joseph's ancestry was connected to David. Since David was from Bethlehem, that is where they had to go to register. Apparently, it isn't like today where you could just fill out a paper saying where your lineage was from and send it in. They were required to go to that place. So, years prior, God put that thought into  the prophet Micah to say, " But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah...from you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel." (Micah 5:2)

So, yes, he came and fulfilled many of the prophecies. But, the greatest of all was the fact that he took the sin of the world, yours, mine, everyones. He became that sacrificial lamb. He went to the cross having never sinned. He asked if there was another way, but he knew the plan and he knew there was not another way for mankind to experience redemption. He died a horrific death and was fully and completely dead. Three days later, he rose and was fully alive. He appeared to more than 500 people. Some who didn't believe until they touched his hands and saw the scars that were there. He later was taken up in a cloud and is seated in Heaven, preparing a place for those who have accepted his gift of salvation.

So, that is the reason Christmas excitement is understandable, but without Easter, it would mean nothing. As you decorate and rush and buy gifts and do good things for others, please don't forget the true reason for why Jesus came. If you haven't ever asked him to forgive your sin and come and reside in your heart, make this Christmas the one that changes everything. A simple prayer, one that says you know you miss the mark, you cannot keep the Law, you need a savior, is all it takes to have a new life. I hope that you will experience this now, you will never regret that choice.