A Different Kind of Christmas

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  I Corinthians 1:18

 

A few years ago a family whose dad was laid off and a mother with three toddlers found themselves without a Christmas tree and without money to purchase one. The family did have some land with a few scrub pines. So they set out that Saturday morning wrapped in scarves, hats, and gloves to find the perfect tree.

Some trees looked perfect but they were too short. Some were beautiful at a distance but up close they were far too tall. Finally, the dad stood beside a tree slightly crooked and sparsely branched. "It's perfect," the children squealed. The dad took his saw and cut the tree as close to the ground as he could while the mom and children held back the limbs. Dragging the tree across the red dirt hill, dad with the trunk, mom, and the children each with a limb, they loaded the tree into an old rusty pickup. 

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2

After struggling to get the crooked tree into a dollar store stand, the dad set the tree in front of the picture window in the living room. All it needed now were the decorations of which they really had none. But first to string on the lights. Around the middle and down the limbs until the tree sparkled with white.  

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

There was popcorn in the cabinet and the mom had purchased a bag of cranberries at the grocery store. So they set about popping corn and trying to figure out how to get a few more pieces on the string than in their mouths, adding in the cranberries here and there. The string was too long and tangled. They tried to tie it all together like storebought garland before they decked the tree but it tangled worse. Finally, with sore fingers from needle pricks, they managed to shorten the strings and tie them around the tree. But now what?

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! John 19:5

There were flour and sugar in the cabinet, cinnamon, and ginger on the spice rack. The family decided to make gingerbread men. Toothpick holes for strings were too small and cooked together. Crotchet hook holes looked huge but cooked up to the perfect size. With red and green curling ribbon they hung the gingerbread people on the tree.  

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

The mom had purchased some red styrofoam apples at an after Christmas sale. There were only a dozen but the balls of red made the tree pop with color against the white lights. Still it needed more. There were white pines in the woods behind the house and though it was not their wood they thought it not robbery to pick up a sack of cones. The curling ribbon was perfect to tie on the base of the cones and tie to the tree. Still, something was missing.

And in thy (Abraham's) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:18

Dad bought a box of red and white candy canes from the dollar store. The children hung them around the tree with the promise that after Christmas the candy would be their treats. 

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22

The family stood back to gaze at their finished work. With smiles from all the family, the Dad concluded that it was the prettiest tree he had ever seen. And indeed it was. Though the family tried every year to make their tree look like the straggledy pine it was never as pretty as the first tree born out of necessity. But still to this day, the grandma hangs popcorn and cranberries on the live tree and the grandpa buys candy canes for the branches and says, "It's a nice tree but it isn't as pretty as that first tree." 

This year Christmas may seem a little different for various reasons. Jesus is still the Light of the World. How will we make meaningful memories for our families that last a lifetime? 

Christmas blessings, 

Gail

Touch the Magi

 they departed into their own country another way. Matthew 2:12b

There's nothing as precious as a child's view of Christmas. Tired from the play and the excitement of opening gifts my granddaughter came to her dad's call to get ready to go home. She gazed at the tree one more time. Spotting a candy cane she asked, "May I have a can can?" to which her mom replied that she had already had her sweet for the day. 

Without argument, she began exploring the tree, gently touching the candy canes, the gold balls, a Santa, and a red clay stocking her sister had made years ago. 

"Touch the nutcracker," her uncle encouraged. She squatted looking intently at the strange soldier. "You put the nut here and it cracks the nut." She gave him the look of "are you kidding me."

"Touch the magi," her dad said. There just above her head was a blue ball with a shadow of magi and a twinkling star. I didn't even remember putting magi on the tree. "They're the wisemen." He encouraged her to touch. Though she was too young to understand all the implications of wisemen, she brought wonder to our Christmas celebration. I wonder if she will remember touching the magi. I know I will remember how her dad began teaching his daughter the importance of our Savior's birth. We felt the touch of Jesus last evening through the touch of a child. 

How has your family experienced the touch of Jesus this Christmas?

The Tree of Christmas

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:1

Hey Kids and Parents

Have you seen the EETCHY worm in your classroom? It’s made of colored beads and it helps kids organize their thoughts to tell a story. I want to use an EETCHY worm today to help us tell about a Christmas tree.

• The first bead of the worm is green to remind us what group we are talking about.

Our group is Christmas Tree

• The second bead is blue to ask us what does it do.A Christmas Tree represents the various meanings associated with Christmas.
• The second bead is yellow with an eye on it. This asks us what does it look like.

A Christmas Tree looks like a tree covered with red, gold, blue and white balls, stars, angels, ribbons, and bells.

• The next bead is brown to ask what is it made of. A Christmas tree is made of wood.
• The next bead is pink to ask what are its parts. A Christmas tree has a trunk, branches, and evergreen needles.
• Then there is a white bead to ask where is it? A Christmas tree is placed inside or outside of a home where everyone can see its beauty.
• The last bead is orange and asks what else do you know. By now most of us have a pretty good picture of a Christmas tree in our minds and our answer to the question what else do you know may be, “That’s all.” Or that there are presents under the tree. But that’s not all!

Let’s go back and examine what we said about the tree. 

• The blue said is represents the various meanings associated with Christmas. What meanings?
•  In the yellow we answered red balls
•  Red is the color of blood. 
• Gold balls. The wisemen brought Jesus gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
• Blue balls are the color of royalty. Jesus is King of Kings. 
• White balls are the color of purity. Jesus was without sin. 
• Wisemen followed a star. 
• Angels announced His birth. 
• Ribbons held the breastplate to ephod on the robe of the high priest. 
• Bells were sown around the hem of his robe so all could here him as he preformed his priestly duties. Jesus is our High Priest.
• The tree is made of wood. Christ shed His blood on a cross made of wood. 
• The evergreen needles tell us that Jesus gives us eternal life. 
• The trunk and the branches lead us back to our scripture: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
• We display our Christmas trees where all can see their beauty. So should Jesus be displayed in our lives that all can see His beauty. 
• We want to come to the tree and receive the gifts. May all the world come to Jesus this Christmas and receive His gift of salvation. 

May there be Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

The last orange bead asks us "What else?" 

What intentional things are you doing to put Christ in your Christmas? 

You don't have to do anything more, only think about the reason you are 

• making cookies
• the places you are decorating
• the reasons for the decorations you are using

Do you need to research why we use a particular item? 

Is there anything that surprises you? 

Please share your Christmas blessings with us.

Blessings,

Gail