What Comes to Mind when You Think of Christmas? “O Christmas Tree…”

Hello Friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Between all the eating, napping, and watching the parade and football, did you find some time to make a Thanksgiving list? Did you sit in your favorite chair and write down all the things you are thankful for? If you are anything like me, after eating a lot of food at my Grandmother’s on Thanksgiving, I typically didn’t write a thanksgiving list. I usually wrote a Christmas list filled with all the cool toys I saw on TV or in magazines. But this year, I wrote a thanksgiving list instead of a Christmas list because I need to do better at thanking God for the blessings He has given me. What were you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Now that Thanksgiving is in our rearview mirror, I bet you know what time it is….IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!! The Christmas Season is officially upon us: stores are decorated, commercials are now Christmas commercials, people are asking you “What you want for Christmas?” and houses are becoming colorful as inflated Santas, reindeer, snowmen, and elves take over yards. Christmas has arrived! So I ask you, what comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Do you think of Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, sledding, candy canes, Jesus in the manger, angels, shepherds, etc.? What do you think about? Over the next couple of weeks, I will share with you what comes to my mind when I think of Christmas!

For starters, when I think of Christmas, I think of Christmas trees! For as long as I can remember, I have always grown up with having a real Christmas tree in my parents’ house. We decorated them with colored lights, homemade ornaments, garland, and some pretty embarrassing school photos. There was never a branch without something on it! As we would decorate our Christmas trees, my dad would always play “O Christmas Tree” on the CD player. Every year I would roll my eyes when I heard that song; but every year that song reminded me that our Christmas tree was more than a simple green tree. Our Christmas tree demonstrated life, it’s branches supported the history and stories of my family, it’s lights brightened up the dark living room, and it’s presence brought peace and comfort every day. It also provided shelter for the manger scene, which sat at the base of the tree, and a resting place for the star of Bethlehem.

Every Christmas the tree we got was different from the previous year. However, every Christmas tree that travelled from the farm to the house brought us a new found cheer, which showed us the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus is the trunk of the tree while we are the branches that help support everything that he has given us in life. What does your Christmas tree mean to you?

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
Not only green in summer’s heat,
But also winter’s snow and sleet.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
Each year you bring to us delight
With brightly shining Christmas light!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.
Your bright green leaves with festive cheer,
Give hope and strength throughout the year.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.