More and more people are opting to buy artificial Christmas trees, rather than fresh. I get it, I really do. The trees are “one and done” and always perfect right out of the box. No fuss no muss.
But after spending many years in the Philippines, where real Christmas trees weren’t an option, I vowed to never again have a plastic tree. I’m pretty adamant about getting a real one each year, even if it’s only a small table top, “Charlie Brown”version.
Real trees come with some problems though. They can be expensive and you have to buy them every year. It’s hard to find a tree that has the right shape all the way around with no bald spots and a straight top. They drop pine needles all over your car and all over your house. Then, as you lift and finagle them into the tree stand, you’ll likely get sap all over your hands and drop even more needles! Then, you have to water them everyday or it will be a dried up stick by Christmas Day. Yes, it’s a messy business. But at least it’s real, I tell myself. So why bother?
Well, I prefer it that way! And, I prefer people that way too, don’t you? Those that are not afraid to be honest and admit everything isn’t perfect. How refreshing. Because my life isn’t perfect either! You know what? God prefers us that way… real. He wants us to come to Him just as we are. We don’t have to pretend.
Let’s come to Him with our sticky messes, our crooked tops and misshapen attitudes, our bald spots, blind spots, and dropping needles all over the place. Because when we do, He will lovingly take us, stand us up, and adorn us with His own righteousness. And, to top it all off, He gives us the perfect gifts of His Holy Spirit. How glorious!
So, whether your tree is perfect, pitiful (like ours), or you have no tree at all…let’s turn our eyes to Him, humbly get real, come and adore Him, and then remember why He came:
“Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”*
*From “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
By John Wesley, 1739
