Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year! A beauty I attempt to reproduce in every part of my world. Yet, I fall short time and time again because “I” try to reproduce something that is superficial and smallminded. Since realizing my desire for more than the trivial from Christmas, my prayer is for God to bring the real and lasting part into my heart.

A tradition for our home is for Christmas decorations to appear even before Thanksgiving.  The reason for this is because in the past when our children were growing up, we were usually not home for Christmas and sometimes even Thanksgiving, so as Thanksgiving hastily approaches, early Christmas decorating begins. And, since it usually takes a good amount of time to fully decorate with all the nicknacks we accumulated from living in different locations and states and from shopping in awesome Christmas stores, and while we enjoy being reminded of where God has taken us through the years, we continue that tradition.  

This year was no exception to pulling out the décor early. I began with our tallest pencil tree, a 9-foot beauty adorning our staircase platform next to the front door. It holds an abundance of snowmen ornaments and a sign that reads, “Jingle All the Way” as well as our very first ornament from the year we were married (1981)! I love that tree! After wearily fluffing and trimming 😉, I loudly proclaim for my overly “ready-for-Christmas-decorations” husband to witness as I push the on/off switch (he watches with the enthusiasm of a child) anticipating the tree lighting up the dark corner of the house. However, the middle of the tree remained dark! Frustrated, because it was too much work to change it, and with the knowledge I still had other trees to bring to life, it would remain in the dark.

A day later, we pulled out our large “joy to the world” fir. Since it has three pieces, I plugged it in fluffing each part as my husband brought them to me. The large bottom part of the tree came out beautifully! Next, the middle, watching as my husband slid it down into the socket igniting that portion of the lights as well, so I continued the fluffing process. Finally, ready for the last part, the top to grace the tree, but as it was engaged into the plug nothing happened. I stopped fluffing!

Artificial, authentic looking Christmas trees are not cheap, but this one was on the cheaper end for sure and I guess it had lived a long enough life, so the next day I decided to toss it and out the back door it went. Later the dear hubby rescued it to the outdoor building. Part of December was spent without a “Joy to the World Tree” in our main living space. Yet we were thoroughly enjoying other decorations around the house besides some great trips the Lord allowed us to experience. However, Amazon delivered a gorgeous tree that was quickly ornamented with our “joy to the world” motif! And we finally made it into the attic for other trees and completed our beautifying even into the garage where we experienced a fun time of wassail and cookies with neighbors after Christmas caroling around our subdivision. Every Christmas my hope is to go caroling, and since moving into this home I have wanted to carol around our neighborhood, and in this eighth year God honored my desire. He graciously gave an abundance of gifts this year, amidst the really hard backdrop of having to say goodbye (for now) in July to my oldest sister’s husband, my bonus brother!

It truly has been through the hardest seasons of our lives that God gives the biggest gifts/blessings, so just a reminder: Don’t ever stop hoping, looking, and expecting! Have faith in the God Who loves us so much He spared not His own Son (Romans 8:32).

PS: More of the lights on my snowman tree have gone out…

AND two days after Christmas, I noticed a strand of lights on my new “joy to the world” tree are out: MY BRAND-NEW TREE!

Obviously, God is taking great pains to teach me HE IS THE TRUE LIGHT and His beauty and glory can never be replaced with the world’s temporal embellishments! What a day that will be when we see Him in ALL His glory!

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9, NLT).

Do you know Him?

“And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him” (Colossians 3:4 & 10, NLT).