| So I almost got in a fight with my Christmas tree last night. We have a new tree and I am just not sure I like it yet. We got one that is flocked. That makes everything look different. It is pre-lit with white lights. It also came with these clear plastic dangly things held on to the ends of the branches by plastic string. I put blue lights on the tree, intending to go with a blue and silver theme this year. Something was missing. I put red lights on it and then felt like saluting the tree. I had a red, white and blue tree. Not quite what I had in mind. I put blue and silver rope around the tree. Now it just looked cheap and garish. I felt like putting it on a street corner so it could earn the money back we’d spent on it. Every step of the way, those dangly things caught onto anything – including my clothing – and fell off or created a tangled mess. There were gaps in the tree and I couldn’t make the branches bend to cover the holes. I stuck huge silver and blue balls in there but it just looked stupid. I finally got mad and took everything off the tree, wrestling those dangly things all the way. My intention was to re-do the red and blue lights. Hubby came and asked, “What ARE you doing??” I replied that I was preparing to burn the tree down. He was, understandably, concerned, “The heck you are. You are NOT burning down that new expensive tree.” I knew that but still. So I replied, “And I am getting ready to cut all those stupid dangly things off because they tangle in everything I put on or near the tree, including me.” His mistake, “Oh no, you’re not! You are not going to do that either.” Oh NO??? Was that a challenge I could meet? And win? I promptly got scissors and began cutting those stupid dangly things off the tree. Common sense prevailed and I stopped cutting them off. Didn’t matter. They were propagating on the tree while we were talking. I explained my problem and he agreed to put the lights back on the tree for me since I am a bit vertically challenged and had been fussing and cussing at the tree, the lights and those blasted dangly things. He began – and promptly got tangled in the dangly things. HA! I am vindicated. I heard a slightly muffled sound coming from behind the tree. Could that have been a curse word? Surely not. He’d cut his hand trying to break off the dangly thing. That plastic string is truly amazing stuff. Almost as good as duct tape. I smugly brought my scissors to him. So in between the dangly things that are left and spraying canned snow on the green wiring that was so obvious in the white branches, the tree is up. We even got the branches bent to cover the gaps. Am I happy with it? Nope. Am I done with it? Yep. Know why? Somewhere between the last of the dangly things and some sleep, I awoke this morning with a new attitude. Christmas isn’t about the perfect tree, perfect gift, or perfect decorations. It isn’t about the perfect food, throwing a perfect party or having perfect Christmas pictures. Christmas is about Jesus. He is the entire reason for the season, not matter how many people try to change things to “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” and “SEASON’S GREETINGS.” You wouldn’t even have Christmas without the Christ who put the word into everyone’s vocabulary. That’s why I boldly and loudly tell people, MERRY CHRISTMAS everywhere I go and to everyone I talk to. Funny – no one is ever offended. They always say it back to me, too! So in the midst of wrestling lights, trees, and dangly things (ho ho ho), stop and simply ENJOY the season. Stop and count your blessings. Take stock and realize you have a lot to be grateful for. ENJOY YOUR LIFE! Article Copyright © 2007 Nan C Loyd All rights reserved. Used by permission. |
| CHRISTMAS #2 |
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| 12/8/2007 |
| Betty's Christmas Dog |
| Susan's Holiday Horse |