One Christmas Season, long, long ago, our family stopped at a downtown Christmas tree lot to purchase a tree for the approaching Holiday. There were bright fairy lights strung around the periphery, enticing passersby to pause and browse. Today, I suppose we call them pop-ups. Whether name or time in history, both follow the same premise; to make the season merry and bright. Being a child, I knew stopping at a Christmas tree lot was the first step in bringing Christmas magic and family traditions to life. Getting the tree was the start of fulfilling Christmas dreams.
I remember how it took Dad forever to parallel-park in front of the lot that year. Impatient, four children wiped the breathy fog from the backseat windowpanes. Soon our noses were flat against the old Lincoln windows so we could see all the shapes and sizes of the trees. Our eyes skimmed the conifers. Of course, we over-talked each other’s suggestions of which tree would be the perfect one to take home. Dad told us to be quiet, or the kids would go home without a tree. (What’s not funny about picturing Mom standing on the curb as Dad drives away with misbehaving youngsters in tow? Of course, in my imagination, mom would see us waving out the rearview window with tears in our eyes.) I muffled laughter in my mittens.
Once released from the automobile, the smell of evergreens seeped up our cold, runny noses. We knew the smell of pine would soon fill our home with the essence of Christmas. I saw Dad blowing his warm breath into his cupped palms to keep frostbite away. Mom kept folding her coat tighter around her middle. I could tell the hunt for the perfect tree was going to be short-lived. Soon, we spotted a bluish-green needled Scotch pine. It looked perfect in its snow-covered costume under the bright lights. On the way home, the sound of enthusiastic kids singing Christmas Carols off-key occupied the car. And, on top of the car, lay the tree strapped snug to the roof.
Dad placed the tree in a roughcast iron tree-stand in the living room corner near the front window. Our heads tilted right as we gazed at it. Without a word, Dad grabbed his jacket and dashed to the garage. He came back, shivering from the Midwest weather, but successful in his quest to save the disparaging tree. In his hand was a long piece of heavy twine. We watched him wrap it around the tree’s crooked spine and pull it to its most upright position. Mom gave Dad a thumbs up when she thought the tree was straight as it was going to get. Dad wrapped the end of the rope around the latch on the window sash and the tree, in all its pine glory, was ready for adornment. We finished decorating the tree by tossing silver tinsel from the top green bough to its bottom branches. When the lights came on, we clapped at our handiwork. We gazed upon our glittering, imperfect tree and loved it.
When I think back on past Christmases, I find I hold the imperfect Christmases as the most meaningful. As a youth, that misshapen tree became a fond remembrance. It could never compete with the storyline of today’s Left Alone, ELF, or A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it became our story. Besides, if every Christmas were perfect, how could we appreciate the uniqueness of Christmases past?
We can praise God we have Jesus to make our imperfections perfect through a life of sanctification. He will continue working through us during this pandemic and beyond. We won’t have to worry about any bend in our core because He makes our paths straight. As His children, we can light up the world brighter than any tree lot. Adorned with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, we can live our lives by faith in the Son of God, whether we stay inside our homes or go outdoors.
Faith and hope are a means for us in ending this year strong and upright. The Lord is our strength and protector. That will never change. Happy Birthday, Jesus—and to those reading this writing, may God’s love shine bright through you and yours this Christmas Season and in the forthcoming year.
Verse of the Month:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV.
