It’s December. That means it’s time to think about decorating for Christmas.
Many years ago, the Christmas tree was very important to me. It had been special in my home growing up; even when there might not be a lot under it, there was a tree that I thought beautiful and brought light to my heart as well as to my eyes.
Early in the marriage that ended, an area tree farmer advertised that he was clearing a tract for new trees to be planted in the springtime. You could cut any tree in the section for $5. I was working and my husband was a college student. A $5 tree sounded like what we needed so we went. I picked out a beautiful blue spruce in the middle of the field. It was so pretty, I felt badly about cutting it but it was going to be cut then or later so we took it.
When we got it to our small apartment and brought it in, we realized that blue spruces are wider than they are tall and it stretched from wall to wall. So my husband cut one side off and wired it to the wall and we decorated it and enjoyed it.
Ever after, the story was told about my need to have a “giant sequoia” at Christmas.
Then years later, there was a new variety of tree out, soft and full, and we had a home with a cathedral ceiling. I bought a 12 foot tree that we had to decorate from the second story. It was absolutely beautiful. And the story about my need to have a “giant sequoia” took on a new chapter.
But the marriage ended and the story is no longer told as it was then.
I try each year to decorate my home so I have the blessing of being reminded daily of Jesus’ birth, God come down as a baby. But somehow, trees are not so important any more. I get out the decorations my mother and friends have made for me and enjoy them and think as I do throughout the year about Jesus giving up heaven for me.
The end of a marriage brings an end to many things and for me, no one to “complain” about my need for a giant sequoia has changed my focus on Christmas decorations. No more giant sequoias in my house these days.
Have circumstances in your life changed what you value about the holidays? How have you found ways to enjoy what is and let go of what was?