My neighbor whom I refer to as Hercules didn’t put his Christmas tree up this year. He shared he only did it for his granddaughter and since she moved away there’s no need. My daughter moved out this year, but the tinsel tree made it’s appearance before Thanksgiving.
I bought this tree the year my daughter went to England for Christmas and it’s absolutely obnoxious, but it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. This morning I was sitting near the tree reading my devotional and gazing at the ornaments within view. The tree tells a story of a single Mom and her daughter and their love for pretty. There are still a few ornaments hanging on from years ago when we decorated our first tree while living on our own. Over the years, the ornaments became better quality, so you can tell my income increased.
This morning my devotional says, “I am working on your behalf. Bring Me all your concerns, including your dreams. Talk with Me about everything, letting the light of My presence shine on your hopes and plans. Spend time allowing My light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality.” (Jesus Calling page 362) That’s where I am on this journey.
Maybe men have different viewpoints than women about the Christmas tree. When I first met Mr. Smith he didn’t have a tree, but he did the following year and my guess would be it’s become more elaborate over time. Then again, my daughter’s boyfriend loves everything about Christmas and they were thrilled to decorate my tree for me, so I’m perplexed. Feel free to share your views.
There’s still time to buy a real tree, or the closer it gets to Christmas, you can buy an artificial one at a really good price. The ornaments will start to go on sale and after Christmas they’ll be 75% off, so if you’re not feeling the Christmas tree this year, you can plan to have one next year. I have faith my life story is already written, but December is the one time a year we can see something larger than ourselves, holding snippets of our life and it’s mesmerizing.
Here’s a single Mom, in an empty nest, with an undying love for the Christmas tree.
Feature Photo by Bao Menglong on Unsplash
Inbarbsworld 
The tree is beautiful. Of course, it would be.Your artistic eye could no nothing else. I believe the Christmas tree debate is more about what is in one’s heart at the time. Just one way of celebrating the Holiday, although I’m with you, I love seeing the decorated tree with its lights sparkling.
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Thank you gorgeousness and I love that explanation of what’s in your heart at the time. I’m with you! 🎄
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Enjoyed reading this, Barb. For me, I find the Christmas tree to be a beautiful symbol of Hope and Faith. We always had a large, “real” tree, sometimes with even two smaller ones around the bottom. It was a forest! The first Christmas after the fire, we had a very small desktop, plastic type of tree because the travel trailer we were in didn’t have the space. I found it sad and depressing, but the seeds of a lesson was planted. As we moved into a house again, I found I couldn’t really sleep well at night knowing I had a cut tree in the house that was getting more brittle by the day, having seen up close how trees burn, so we splurged for a nice artificial tree. Took a bit to get over the traditions of the past, but I soon began to see the tree more symbolically. (We also bought a little live tree growing in a container for that pinesy fragrance!) Doesn’t the Bible say somewhere, Come to Him as children? The Christmas tree helps me with that. Good post, Barb!
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I love what you shared here Gary. Thank you for taking the time to do so. I couldn’t agree more with the tree’s symbolism and never thought about how the fire would alter how one views the Christmas tree, but it makes sense. Underneath all the ornaments it’s a real tree.
My daughter and I used to purchase a real tree every Christmas because she loved the smell, but now artisan’s make candles that offer that smell. It was difficult to let go of that tradition, but I feel she prepared me for it the year she visited the UK. I couldn’t go through Christmas without a tree, but decided if it was going to be fake, it was going to be obviously so! 😂
The Bible talks about seeing through the eyes of a child. You may be referring to Matthew: 19:14, but either way you’re right Gary. The Christmas tree stirs up our inner child. Merry Christmas my friend. 🎄
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