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We will not have many people who will see our Christmas tree in person this year. But we still put one up and dug out the familiar ornaments.
The tree in many ways is a collage of our life. Each ornament has some meaning to us.
First house, new baby, ornaments made by the growing child.
Happy meal ornaments, vacation souvenirs, gifted ornaments from family and friends.
Ornaments from Jay’s family tree and my family tree.
Some ornaments just because they made us smile.
Some ornaments that have secret meanings only we know, but we pause and think each year as we unbox them.
There were other years. There were other trees. There were other people who once held or looked upon these ornaments.
They are a patchwork quilt of our life, lovingly unfolded in the dark days of winter and put away again when the season is over.
This year, due to a number of things, I was slower in getting the ornaments on the tree. At first, I was frustrated that I could not be my usual “efficient self.”
But the delays were blessings in disguise. Adding a few ornaments a day gave me time to reflect more on each of them … the place the attached memories had in my heart once and where those memories fit now.
Some ornaments I quietly put back in the box. Those seasons are over and they need not come again.
Some ornaments I put back in the box because I realize they should now hang from someone else’s tree.
But the precious ones, I now see hanging among the lights and I smile. It has been a beautiful life and I am blessed.
Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good.
His Love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
