Resolutions and Revelations: Celebrating Christmas!

I was trying to recall when my family first bought a real Christmas tree. Not the pre-lit, boxed kind that you buy at some superstore. I'm talking about the real kind that has a fragrance that fills your whole house with Christmas.
It must have been when I was in high school because I definitely remember them all throughout college. (My memory's just not what it used to be.) I do remember that my mom and I would go out searching for just the right tree and then we'd call my dad to come pick it up. I remember one year when we decided to get our tree "flocked" with white snow. It was alright, but we only did that one time.
Even after I was married and had a family of my own, our annual holiday tradition was to go out the day after Thanksgiving and pick out a beautiful tree, bring it home and decorate it. Frazier firs, Noble firs... they were my favorite.
Of all the Christmas decorations in the home, the tree is usually the biggest and most important. The centerpiece, so to speak. It sets the standard for all the other decorations in the house. Growing up, my mom and I would always pick out a theme for that Christmas season - usually colors like red and gold or green and white. We had enough ornaments and ribbons and knick-knacks overflowing from boxes in the attic that we would just pick out whatever fit that year's theme.
Well, let's just say... times have definitely changed.
If you've read my blog at all, you know that we had to basically give up all our earthly possessions except what would fit in a couple suitcases. Unfortunately, Christmas decorations didn't make the cut.
We had really given up on the idea that we'd even have a Christmas tree at all this year until after scouring some papers, I found a little discount store with some additional coupons for trees and trimmings.
We found a tree in a box small enough that we could carry on mass transit, yet big enough to fit in the front window of our house so our neighbors could enjoy some Christmas cheer too.
Then, just like always, the day after Thanksgiving we cued up our favorite "Carpenter's Christmas" CD and decorated our tree.
The tree's not as grand as the ones in our old life, but then, what is these days? There's no "theme" to the ornaments or colors. There's just a few strands of lights and the tree doesn't have that great piney, Christmas fragrance.
But looking at our tree, I can't help but think of the manger. What must Mary have been thinking the day she gave birth? There was no hospital. No sterilized equipment and warm, comfortable blankets.
The manger was as far from grand as you can get. Yet it was absolutely the most beautiful scene because of what occurred in that manger that night.
Love was laid in the manger. Love so beautiful that people came from all over the world to see it and be near it. Love that would be given freely to anyone who would accept it. Love that would one day bleed and die just so we could have it in our hearts.
No, love is not found in the Christmas tree no matter how grandiose or how simple the decorations may be. Love is found in the hearts of those who celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!
Here's hoping that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas filled with love. We miss you!