Are you busy at your house preparing for Christmas? This week we finally put up the Christmas tree. In years past, I have been known to put the tree up as soon as it turned November. My husband prefers me to wait until after his birthday, however. So I try my best to observe his wishes! 
This year, I'm getting it up much later than normal. There's been a lot going on at our house.
As a kid, I remember Christmas time. Dinners with our huge extended family, taking rides to see the lights, and the frequent years that we would go with Dad to find a fresh Christmas tree. We'd go out to a tree farm in a nearby town and search and search for the perfect one. It was so much fun (or at least that's how my mind remembers it). We'd bring it home and clean it and the whole house would smell of fresh pine. I love those memories.
Then there's the married years. We've had the same tree as long as we have been married. For years, I've wanted to get a new one, but usually something of greater importance comes to our attention just about the time I decide I'm going to go out and get one. This year, it's the water heater and our car situation. Nonetheless, we excitedly drug the old tree out of the attic. And despite my disliking the tree, I do believe this year it is more beautiful than ever!
As we unloaded the boxes of ornaments from their containers, I took a trip down memory lane. Every year we have added a new ornament to the tree since the kids were born. The new ornament is always of the kids, but this year I used the picture of the family taken in Indiana. It was what I felt impressed to do.
I can recall back the years and look how we've changed as a family. It's amazing. Not all of the years have been easy. Some have been very difficult, yet, gazing at the tree I was reminded of the history we are creating and what kind of legacy we will leave behind. Next year, the book of the family will begin yet another chapter. Our lives are constantly being adorned with memories.
The kids are in a production called "Angels Aware", which will be performed tomorrow. I was in lots of church productions as a kid (I love to sing). My favorite one was "The One and Only Original Christmas Factory". I was actually a teenager at the time and agreed to help out the kids church kids. I was cast as the old lady who ran the factory. The musical told about the symbols of Christmas and what each of them meant. The one that stuck out to me the most.... the TREE (now how many times do I have to mention that I really like trees!) The evergreen is a wonderful symbol. It symbolizes God's everlasting love for us. It's also ever-green, which means He never changes... He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The symbols of Christmas as so poignant. If you begin thinking about Christmas or simply the word "Christmas" so much will run through your head that it's hard to stop.
Mostly when I think about Christmas, though, I feel "LOVE". "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Today, I will leave you with a poem that I wrote some years ago now in 1998 . I wrote it to add to my Christmas cards back them, but maybe you'll enjoy it, too.
The trimmer's search has begun;
He looks over all the trees.
His voice exclaims, "Yes, this is the one!".
Oh, the vision His mind's-eye sees.
He takes the tree and places it
Where it would be the best.
He pulls and tugs and snips away
Until His heart has rest.
When the trimmer has finally removed
Every single flaw,
He steps back and heaves a sigh,
As if He stands in awe.
Next He takes His glowing lights,
Burying them deep inside.
He knows the light will shine so bright
And make the decorations look divine.
Each ornament seems to testify
About the tree's plot in life.
Every one fashioned is unique;
Some with heartache or with strife.
But the tree accepts all the ornaments
As if standing with open hands.
The trimmer adorns it's character,
Oh, the precision He commands!
The tree's a work in progress.
You may think His work is done.
It changes so from year to year,
His work has only just begun!
Just imagine how we are like
That wonderful little tree.
God has picked us for His own
And has a vision for what we should be.
So let the trimmer examine you.
He knows things we do not.
Allow Him to make you a symbol for Him.
Please, allow Him to work in your heart.
-Jennifer Weiss 1998
