Monday, September 1, 2014

Children's Moment: Too tired for a Christmas tree!


Yesterday after I had gotten done working all day, I came home, showered up and got ready to put up the Christmas tree.  Normally every year this is my favorite part of Christmas, the erection of the Christmas tree.  I usually have Mr. Ladd drag our huge Christmas tree out of storage and listen to him murmur under his breath, then out loud about how ridiculous it is that he has to bring up this huge tree. Once he gets it upstairs I never can figure out the lights so he has to figure out how all the lights plug in together and I again get to listen to him talk under his breath about how silly it is to have a tree I can’t even figure out.  He especially was talking out loud the year that our dog had chewed a little hole in the cord and Ladd grabbed it when it got plugged in.  Can we say “zzzzzzzzzzzzzzt?” 

After Ladd does his work, the kids and I usually set about decorating the tree and dragging out every Rubbermaid container and emptying it of its contents.  We will usually have something Christmas on every single wall, table and countertop in our house.  It’s like a Christmas wonderland.  When we get finished, Mr. Ladd really appreciates the beauty of all the decorations and admits, the long trip up the stairs and all the light fixing is worth it.

Well, this year, I just didn’t feel like decorating or putting up the tree.  I was tired from working and Mr. Ladd was helping a friend work on their house, so I didn’t have him as my go-to for setting-up the tree.  I started wondering, why do we even put up a tree?  Isn’t it just more work?  And Christmas isn’t about a tree right?  We all know Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, God’s only son.  This is the meaning of our celebration, so why don’t we just put up a big Jesus in our living room right?

So, I did a little research.  The reason behind a Christmas tree originated a long long long time ago, but here are some of the meanings behind the Christmas tree today.  The lights on the tree used to be candles which celebrated the birth of Jesus, kind of like the candles on the cake.  Now they represent Jesus’ birth and the light he brought into the world.  The tree itself reminds us of the wooden cross Jesus endured to give us life.  We also use evergreen trees which stay green all year round, reminding us of the hope and everlasting life we have in Jesus.  The cutting down of the tree reminds us of Jesus death and the raising of the tree reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection.  The narrow point of the tree points upward, which reminds us to turn our thoughts upward toward heaven.

Well, after reading up a bit on the Christmas tree, it made me excited to put up this symbol of Jesus birth.  We got one of our little trees, placed some of our favorite ornaments on it and a strand of lights.  Nothing fancy, just a reminder of Jesus’ light and love for us.  You know what the best part of it was?  Mr. Ladd didn’t have to set-up the tree!

Isaiah 9:6 says “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

As you get ready for the Christmas season, remember, HE, Jesus is the reason for the season!


Let’s pray.  Dear God, thank you for sending your son Jesus into this world. for giving us a reason to celebrate.  Thank you for your saving grace.  I pray that you bless each one of these children, go with them, protect them, love them as only you can.  Be with their families.  We love you, praise you and honor you in all we do, in Jesus name.  Amen

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