My Christmas Tree
For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100:5 NLT
Meet my Christmas tree from 1986. We lived in a trailer in the backyard at that time, because the house had burnt. That Christmas season Mom and Dad felt the tree was safest in the pack and play, where it was more likely to remain standing, because of little ‘ole me!
Thanks to Google and the National Christmas Tree Association, I can assume my Christmas tree was about 7 years old when it came to live in our home for that short season. I’m nearly 38 and that makes my tree around 45 by now.
Trees live long lives, and watch a lot of changes take place. In 1984, my parents didn’t choose for their house to burn. But because it did, my grandparents were able to rebuild. And then Stephen and I were able to move in and spend countless hours swinging the kids in the shade of the tree. My Christmas tree spends its days now shading a 4th generation of the family.
Really, only the Sycamore tree stands taller than my Christmas tree. Grandma had painted on a slate piece at the front door that the brick portion of our house was built in 1835. I like to imagine the Sycamore was just a little sapling then. Can you imagine the seasons and changes it’s seen? The people and families it’s looked over? The joys and tragedies? For goodness sakes, the introduction of indoor plumbing? A few years back, we let the girls each choose a tree to be planted around the house. Now I also watch those 4 trees grow a little each year. And I find myself wondering what the trees will see in the next 4 generations. I find myself wondering who will rest in the shade of the trees in the years to come; what they'll read or sing or think about. The trees make me contemplate the past, and my role in the future. What makes you ponder your family's past, present and future? I would love to know!
My Christmas tree, July 2023.
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