Tag Archives: gifts

If this tree could talk…

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Christmas trees. if there is any one thing that symbolizes Christmas, it is a tree.

A small sampling from the internet reveals a plethora of styles and designs.

xmas tree 5xmas tree 4xmas tree 2xmas tree 6xmas tree 1

When did you put up your tree? Perhaps you cut down a live one.

Maybe the fake tree you have used has been in and out of your attic for 15 years.

Whatever the case, I think we can all agree that a tree is a symbol of the Christmas season.

Just for fun, here is my tree:

upside down tree

I pose this question to you:

If your tree could talk, what would it say? 

We take out our trees and decorate them every year. The lights go on first then the ornaments. And finally, the presents are placed underneath the tree.

If you were a Christmas tree, what would you say?

Would you be excited to be decorated?

Or would you be grumpy because you sat in storage for the last 10 months?

Are there family gatherings that you could talk about or do you stand alone in a dark corner of the room?

My purpose is not to condemn or condone the use of Christmas trees. I personally like to see trees all lit up and shining through a large picture window.

May this post be a reminder that Christmas is more than a tree. 

The trees that you see around at this time of year should serve as a reminder.

A reminder that Jesus was born in a manger and that is why we celebrate this event.

My motivation behind a “talking tree” post was two-fold.

  1. I fall into the trap of commercialism at Christmas time. You get so wrapped (no pun intended) up in giving gifts that it is really easy to forget the greatest Gift that has ever been given.
  2. If you have been distracted by all the lights and tinsel, let all that yule-tide bling point you to Jesus.

So as you gather around your tree in a few days, make time for a little baby in a manger.

Don’t worry, the gifts can wait.

Merry Christmas to all!

Yep, you can tell that I wrapped that one.

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Almost every Christmas since we got married, we have had the fortune (blessing) of waking up on Christmas day at my in-law’s house. No, that is not an opening line to a joke. =-)

There is a tree and plenty of decorations. And of course, gifts. As a follower of Christ, I know that Christmas is about the birth of a savior and not the presents under the tree. I do my best to teach that to my family as well. But let’s be honest, I like getting stuff. My mother-in-law always asks me for my Christmas (and birthday) list. So I oblige her and write one out. =-)

christmas list

Generally, my wife will wrap the gifts for our two children and mine as well. I only wrap the ones for my wife and occasionally, some gifts for the other family members. It seems that every year, my father-in-law makes a comment about the wrap job on a gift. By now, it is really simple to tell which presents I wrap and which ones are wrapped by my wife. Getting those corners so crisp is near impossible for me. I think I use way more tape than necessary as well. Every time, my wrapping paper is not very good, and it is obvious.

Let me share another little story. On Sunday, I saw my friend at church. We have shared many life experiences and have grown together in the Lord. There was a book, Lessons from a Venetian Vinedresser by Robert Scott Stiner, that I had read. I passed it along to my friend. Both of us agreed that we should re-read it. It really is a phenomenal book. But, in the past six months I lost my copy of the book. So I ordered two copies, one for me and one for my friend. I gave it to him as church this past weekend. He was really surprised but very grateful to receive his own copy of the book. It was a great joy to be able to give it to him.

vinedresser book

Do you know what a mash-up is? Take peanut butter and chocolate and mash them together. What do you get?

Reese's-PB-Cups-Wrapper-Small

That makes a fantastically tasty mash-up!

So take my first story about not wrapping presents very well. Mash that story with the second one about giving the book to my friend. What do you get?

jesus in manger

Luke 2:7 says, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,”

 

Jesus was a gift to the human race. God even had it wrapped! Sometimes I don’t feel worthy to accept the gift. Other times I just plain reject it. Sometimes I feel honored to have the gift. There are many moments when I feel I need the gift.

Whatever the case (my feelings being irrelevant), the gift has been offered to me and to you. It comes to us free of charge. Anyone can have it. You don’t need special credentials or status. Young or old; rich or poor, the gift is exactly the same for everyone. We are given the opportunity to unwrap the gift and then God can do the cleaning up. We don’t get right and then accept what God has done.

So, what gift will you be opening this year?