The Christmas Tree

The following true story was written in 2007 and was printed in the Kansas Country Living Magazine as a Christmas memory.  

The Christmas Tree

Christmas was a few days away. My mom had been bedridden with the flu so we didn’t have a tree because she usually picked one up at our local grocery store. With Mom sick and Dad busy with work, I was afraid we weren’t going to have a Christmas tree.

            Mom had noticed my sad face and instantly knew what was wrong. She suggested that Dad and I go to the grocery store to buy one. After a quick supper, Dad and I hit the streets.

 Only two mangled trees remained on the grocery store’s parking lot. Neither Dad nor I liked our choices, but we were thankful that we had a choice. Looking both trees over closely, Dad thought he could cut a few branches here and there to revive the one.

            When we got home, Dad found his hand saw and cut away. I unpacked the tree stand and the Christmas decorations. Mom had managed to leave her bed and was assisting us as much as possible.

            Dad’s job was to put on the lights first; then, we did the rest. This year, however, I did the decorating solo while Mom offered suggestions from the sofa. When we finished, we turned off the house lights and plugged in the tree lights. Despite its crooked trunk and crippled branches, its colorful array of ornaments, garland and icicles transformed it into a glistening spectacle. It was the prettiest Christmas tree we ever had.

           

AFTER THOUGHT:  What my earthly father did to that marred, unwanted tree is what my Heavenly Father is doing to me.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21