I watch the lights twinkle in their eyes. I see a fake Christmas tree. They see shining beauty in which anything is possible.
I look at the ornaments. I see history. I see memories. I see first times on Santa’s lap, my first Radko ornament from my parents, a Santa star that I painted as a child, and my children’s handprints. They see glitter and joy, hope and love, laughter and fun. They see a Santa who wiggles and one that’s a big piece of candy. They see all that can be while I see all that has been.
It’s miraculous watching your children learn about Christ. Learn about the child who was born so many years ago in a stable and placed in a manger for his first night on Earth.
I now think about Mary and her mother’s heart and what she felt like as she was birthing the King. How helpless Joseph must have felt to not be able to find a place for his wife and almost-born Son, who he knew was a special gift from God, to lay their heads. I see a Savior coming into the world helpless and dependent entirely on his mother for survival, even while knowing that he possessed the power of the entire world in his hands.
And hearing requests to see “Baby Jesus” and giggles over Jesus being in Mary’s tummy and wonder at why in the world Jesus was in a room where the cows were sniffing him, makes me happy to see their joy at the birth of the Savior.
I hope that we can remember over the next few weeks that the season is not about the tree in our home right now. It’s not about the Christmas tree. But the tree that the sweet baby Jesus was nailed to years later. That we can enjoy the miracle of Christmas while keeping the reality of the cross in our minds as well.
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This was my addition to Lisa-Jo’s Five Minute Friday. Join her and others as we take five minutes to write unedited about her prompt for the week. This week’s is TREE.
hisfirefly
November 15, 2013 at 3:17 pmAmen! The tree behind the tree, the cross. Well said.
TalesOfAPeanut
November 15, 2013 at 3:19 pmThanks! Not sure how I got there but glad I did! 🙂
Stacy Voss
November 15, 2013 at 3:34 pmBeautiful. Just beautiful! But I have to know, what’s a radko ornament?
I live in Colorado, but it’s been so gorgeous out that I can’t believe Christmas is around the corner. Thanks for getting my heart ready, even when the weather doesn’t!
TalesOfAPeanut
November 15, 2013 at 7:09 pmThanks Stacey! A Radko ornament is an ornament made by Christopher Radko. They’re beautiful hand blown ornaments made in Europe. My Mom gave me a tiny one in middle school that is called “Plum Santa” and I always love putting him on the tree. Since then my Mom has given me at least one every year and it’s a tradition that I now follow with my kids and my Mom still continues with me and my kids. Thanks for visiting!
Sue
November 15, 2013 at 3:41 pmOh, I loved this… especially “They see all that can be while I see all that has been”
Their perspective is so different, unhindered, pure…
Your neighbor at FMF ; )
Sue
TalesOfAPeanut
November 15, 2013 at 7:09 pmThanks Sue!
BoniLady
November 15, 2013 at 8:24 pmMy FMF post is very similar to this! Great minds think alike, right??
Happy Holidays- HE is the reason 🙂