On December 8th our family went out to cut down a perfectly good tree and bring it inside so we could decorate it. I'll have to see where this tradition comes from and it's "meaning"... Hey, give me a break, it's just the way I think.

Anyway, Jadon was slightly overdressed since it had to be the most beautiful day of the entire winter. Not a cloud in the sky, so no rain and plenty of sun. Even so the temperature was about 46.

Since we now live in the Northwest we thought perhaps the weather had killed off all the creepy-crawlies that live on trees, so I did not rinse the tree off. After bringing the tree in however, I was put to work catching a couple of six and eight legged hitch-hikers.

This year we decorated the tree with ornaments and glass bulbs that Neita had delivered to us. As long as Jadon and Rocky are not pulling them off the tree we'll be happy to use them! My parents contributed an ornament too. It shows Linus of Peanuts fame, reciting the Nativity story from the Gospel of Luke.

Now, all I have to do is continually water the tree each day to make sure to keep it healthy and alive. A year or two ago it was a hassle to take the tree down and retrim it after the base sealed over with sap and started to die.

A dried up Christmas tree could be a great illustration of how life with Jesus can be. When connected to the water or Spirit of God, we have life. We constantly need to fill up with God or we dry up. Life dries up!

Here's a prayer that all who read this remember the reason for the season and connect with the nurturing and sustaining life in Christ during this Christmas. Take a few moments to be still, pray, reread the real Christmas story or take an obedient step of faith in the Love of God. After all, as Linus says, "that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown".

In His Grip,
Will