O Christmas Tree

Today I succumbed to the pressure and finally put up my Christmas tree.  Oh how times have changed.  In 2000, when Steve and I were first married our little 4′ Christmas tree was up on November 1st.  I think Steve may have thought he was going to go crazy.  He was a last minute.   Ok, not at all decorator when it came to Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter.  I always bugged him that he was a grinch (still is really)! 

I grew up in a home where Christmas decorations were all around.  My mothers tree was always a beautifully decorated, colour c0-ordinated one.  It took many hours to get all the decorations on.  Everything was always just so.  There were wreaths, garland and centerpieces.  The annual Christmas tablecloth.  She was as decked out as one could be.  I drank it in too.  I loved the sight of all these beautiful things that my mother so lovingly placed out for us.  I could sit by the tree for hours, in awe of each ornament, drinking in the holiday season. 

Our first little tree was colour co-ordinated too.  Silver, white and blue.  I had beautiful white lights, glass balls, ribbons, flowers.  It was as beautiful as I could possibly make it.  Afterall, I didn’t really inherit my mothers craftiness, just her love of it.  I had decorations in the bathroom, special towels and garland.  I had them in the kitchen.  Everywhere!  I LOVED Christmas.

Fast forward a few years and a few kids later.  My tree has dramatically changed.  It’s morphed into something new, something that I’m learning to appreciate more and more each year.  There are new decorations each year, not purchased at a fancy store, but crafted.  Not by my hands, rather by my kids.  There are handprint ornaments, manger scenes, wreaths.  All dated, all loved, all treasured.  My white lights have changed to coloured ones.  My glass balls replaced by ones more durable.  

My tree has transitioned from a tree that I grew up with, to my family tree.  A tree that I love more and more each year.  I look forward to the additions.  This year was no different.  My favourite comes by way of Justus.  It is a reindeer made out of puzzle pieces.  It’s been painted brown.  All these things expected.  What isn’t expected?  The eyes go down the face and the nose is on the antlers.  At the preschool, they allow the child to creatively do the craft.  Allowing them to interpret what’s expected.  So I know this is Justus.  It’s being 2.5 all wrapped up into one small little ornament.  It’s all him.

Today I celebrate that my family is making new traditions.  I still have my base of silver and blue ornaments, but it’s the other ones that mean so much more to me.  The decorations around the house have certainly pared way down too.  When you have 5 kids, 7 and under…well, it’s just not practical to have all those things out.  Too many hands, not enough eyes to watch everyone!

I pray that this Christmas season is a blessed one for you and your families.  I pray that you embrace the traditions of your past, but also make new ones.  Embrace the season for what it is, that of love.   For at this time, we as Christians celebrate the coming of Jesus in baby form.  Remembering that God sent Him into the world that we no longer would be bound by our sins, but to set us free.  God made the ultimate sacrifice, He gave up his son.  So this year as I cherish the ornaments from my kids, I’m also reminded that God gave up so much more for me.  May He bless you and keep you in the days and years to come.  Safe journeys as you travel to see loved ones.  Happiness and peace to those of you who need comforting.