Friday, December 23, 2016

The Christmas Tree

Allow me to do some rambling and serving of memories. I do have an important point and will get to it eventually.

Recently I was flicking through some television channels when I came across a discussion about should Christians having Christmas trees. It caught my attention. I wondered why shouldn't Christians have Christmas trees. It is a time of celebration. A time to rejoice. A time to give thanks. A time to decorate for the most special birthday of all.

Some scholars/researchers refer to verses from Jeremiah to oppose Christmas trees. The problem with this is Christmas came about much, much later after the death of Jesus. So, there was not a birthday celebration for many years. Oh, and by the way, the Bible had already been written before anyone thought of a name like Christmas.

I can fondly remember my early childhood days of helping my Grandmother decorate a tree for Christmas. My Grandmother would certainly not have had a Christmas tree if the Bible stated not to. That just would not have happened.

I remember my Grandfather would go out, cut down a ever-green tree and bring it home and place it in the house. It had to be perfectly straight on its wooden base. Grandmother would bring out the decorations and we would start making the tree beautiful with all kinds of stuff.

On would go the lights. (Grandmother always placed the lights on the tree but she did allow me to help - some.) The colorful balls or ornaments were next. My biggest and most important job was throwing the tinsel on the tree. Bet some of you have no idea what I am talking about. Bet you don't even know that real candles were once used on Christmas trees. That didn't last long and you might can guess why. Plastic candles started to be used in place of the real ones.






A star or angel was always placed on the very top. I know now that the angel stood for the angel that spoke to the shepherds that were in their fields tending their herds. The star stands for the star that lead the wise men to the manger. The ever-green tree stands for Jesus.

Of course, now, we have a lot of artificial trees in use. I still like the real thing. (Don't forget to water.)

I see nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus by using a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with colorful packages placed under it. Carefully selected gifts for family and friends that you pondered over before making a decision. Besides, the wise men brought gifts of gold, incense and myrrh for Jesus to honor and praise him.

My point: no matter how you celebrate this holiday, Christmas, remember there would be no holiday, no Christmas if it were not for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So if you celebrate in any way you are acknowledging the birth of Jesus.



Lord, help us to remember that the Christmas tree stands for you. That the decorations are our gifts to you. To adorn and praise you. That the colorful wrapped packages are our Love gifts, in your name, to others.


Merry Christmas

Elaine