Good morning…
I joyfully journal to the glow of our Christmas tree lights for the first time in 2017. I love this morning every year. These still, quiet moments reap the benefits of having finally chosen our tree and somehow gotten it home safely strapped atop our car, having struggled it centered into the stand then tying it upright to hooks on the wall, and having decorated the ten to twelve foot visitor with differing degrees of annual difficulty and dispute. Now in the wee, dark hours I plug into the wall the colored lights of our new friend and – voila – meaningful magic wafts through our home.
Cozying up into the rainbow glow, my eyes scan the landscape of these Frazier fur limbs. Here lies remnants of our family’s history. The “Baby’s first Christmas” ornaments of our four kids. My own “Baby’s first Christmas” green bootie from 1963, the actual stocking Santa filled annually when I was a kid, and an ugly ceramic king ornament I remember proudly painting when I was eight. A pregnant momma bear from one of the two Christmas seasons when I was big and busting (our first was born on January 6th in 1995, our second was born on January 7th two years later). A huge number of flimsy, handmade creations from our kids’ years in preschool and elementary. Four special, symbolic ornaments help me remember the babies lost to our four miscarriages. Pictorial ornaments of our family at differing ages and stages. Ornaments from “Christmas in Pennsylvania” to 1996 Atlanta Olympics, from our blue and white “The Lovett School” glass ball to creative keepsakes from our six seasons in Connecticut, from our family’s favorite “bungee-jumping Santa” to the winner of my husband’s ugly tie contest. Sewing Seeds ornaments hand-stitched and sold to support women in Nicaragua and several “Abby’s Angels” and “Audrey’s Angels” ornaments, honoring our young friends who have battled cancer, raising funds for childhood cancer research. A plethora of nativities, baby Jesus, stars, and angels join random replicas of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, their reindeers, and jolly elves. Our trees branches are laden with a boatload of blessings. Gathered. Cherished. Annually remembered.
Do you better understand why I love this morning every year? I joyfully journal to the glow of our Christmas tree lights for the first time in 2017. In these still, quiet moments, I reap the beautiful benefits of memories I will always keep.
Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed] (2 Corinthians 9:6, AMP).
…Sue…
