The Tree

I'm sorry, but the tree must come down!

I know that the Christmas season is still upon us, but the tree has to come down. Every year we leave the tree up through Epiphany, but this year, it's too cluttered. There are still remains of Christmas wrapping scraps, glitter, and newly acquired toys blossoming all over the living room. Half of the lights spontaneously went out around December 15th and the dogs have eaten all the macaroni garland from the bottom of the tree. It's a sad looking beast at this very moment.

We still have our Jessie Tree and the Nativity on display. Aren't those the true Christmas symbols, anyway? My little girl understands more so that Christmas is "Jesus' Birthday" rather than why we have this large plastic tree that lights up in the middle of the living room restricting her play space. (We have to have an artificial tree because my husband is allergic to the real thing. That's right. He sneezes uncontrollably if he is within 30 feet of those green rascals. I wonder what it would be like to take him on a hike?)

So, if you have a tree and you can still keep it up, buy all means, keep the Christmas tree for all to enjoy. But if you have to take it down, let's not let the true meaning of Christmas be put away or thrown to the side of the road for garbage pick-up. God gave his only son, in his most vulnerable form, for us to know and love. Let's treasure this.