O' Christmas Tree

When I was a young girl, I used to sit in the dark in my family’s living room and stare at the Christmas tree. I’d dream of Christmases past, present, and future. I’d get lost in the magical silence that only Christmas can bring while the lights glistened, and the tinsel hung on my tree. In my opinion, a Christmas tree reflects a sort of anticipation and excitement; it offers HOPE.

This Christmas season is filled with lots of excitement. Planning, cooking, decorating... I haven’t even gotten to the part about the list of gifts and wrapping them! There is so much pressure to be jolly during the holidays. Quite honestly, I have found myself being more like Scrooge this year. That is… until I finally took a moment and sat down in front of my Christmas tree. 

I sat in front of it with my childlike awe. As I gazed onto it, with only the twinkling lights strung around me tree lighting my living area, it all came back to me. And instead of getting caught up in all the things that weren’t going right, I remembered the hope a Christmas trees offers.

As you read this, I want to encourage you to do the same. Instead of fretting about what we are buying, let’s get caught up in the memories we are making. As women we often don’t have time to sit and enjoy it.  I think that is what I was most frustrated with this year. The season is passing all too quickly and I haven’t gotten to fully enjoy it. I feel guilty about that. And I feel like I am running out of time to enjoy the season for another year! 

But there is still time. And, there is time after Christmas Day. I think I’ll enjoy hope all the way into the New Year!

What are you hoping for this Christmas? I am hopeful that by Christmas I can sit, relax, enjoy, and that time will stand still Christmas Day for a few extra minutes so I can embrace those around me and make memories to carry us into the future. 

We can’t control time, but we can control how we feel. Dress up that tree and sit in the dark staring at the glow; believing that despite our circumstances we can make time to pause and “start from scratch”. It is up to each of us to make that time. Because “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” Even better if it is around the tree… in the silent, dark, magic of Christmas.