The Branch

There is something so beautiful about a Christmas tree.
The fragrance…the ornaments…the memories.
When I was a little girl we always had an artificial tree.
I promised myself, when I had my own home, we would have only real trees at Christmas.

For thirty one years, we have kept that promise.
There is a bit of maintenance though…watering…vacuuming up the needles that fall.
For me, it is still worth it!

I look at the branches, heavy laden with ornaments…telling our story.
I look at the tin star at the top, just barely clearing the ceiling.
I look at the presents beneath the tree…the ones my children give to each other.
They love the way the living room looks…the wrapped presents…the waiting.

Familiar to most of us are the tree mishaps stories.
The finished tree…the stand back and admire glance.
Go to bed…crash!

Three times in our married life, our Christmas tree has fallen.
It is such a horrible sound…and a sad sight.
Even though you put the ornaments back on, the tree never looks quite the same.

When our tree fell the first time, my husband said we needed a new tree stand.
When it fell the second year, even with our new stand, he was ready to give in and get an artificial tree.

The third time it fell, my husband was away on business.
Our neighbor came in to help me, since my children were young.
He told me about this “wonder” tree stand, that you can adjust with a foot pedal.
I told my husband when he got home…we bought one.
It has been a “wonder” through the years!

Wide branches at the bottom, providing a covering for all that is underneath.
Smaller branches at the top…pointing us to the star.

In those days and at that time, I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 33:15)

Jesus is the Branch…the righteous branch that sprouted from David’s line.

Sometimes there is controversy over Christmas trees.
Some say they come from a pagan tradition celebrating the winter solstice.

There will always be controversies.
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we know it.
Christians began to bring decorated trees into their homes in the 16th century.
It is believed that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree, as he walked home one evening and marveled at the stars.

For every controversy, there is Christ.
Christ is more powerful than any controversy.
Christ shows us a better way.

We give gifts…and we remember the priceless Gift God the Father gave us in His Son.
We sing Christmas carols and remember the angel chorus the shepherds heard.
We put a star on our tree and think of the Star that led the wise men to Jesus.
We hang ornaments on the branches of our tree and think of the Righteous Branch.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord…(Isaiah 11:1,2)

Hang your ornaments.
Decorate your tree.
Sing your carols.
Give your gifts.

Remember Him.
The CHRIST of Christmas.
He has never left!
He is undeniably present!
The day belongs to Him alone.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)