The years while my children were growing up, I decorated a "REAL" tree. This included either an annual trip to Nanny's farm or in later years, a trip to a Christmas tree farm to find the "perfect tree". As I am certain you could guess, I had to look at every tree available and often made a choice which required quite a bit of trimming once we managed to get it home. It was really great fun and I have wonderful memories of those years. Some years, I decorated with other evergreens such a pine boughs, pine cones, holly, and of course mistletoe. It you are a "city person", you do not realize mistletoe grows at the top of a host tree. I call them sucker plants for they leach their nutrients from the host tree. This required climbing WAY up in a tree to harvest. OR if you were a "good old boy", you might shoot it out of the tree. You had to be there!
I was a climber in my younger years----since I had two brothers and no sisters---I never saw a tree that did not need climbing--nor a roof I wouldn't chance. I am smart enough at this point to keep my feet on the ground. It's enough of a challenge staying vertical with two feet on the ground.
Sadly, those days ended the year I had to go to the Christmas tree farm alone to harvest a tree. It just wasn't the same alone and my nest was empty. I gave up and bought my first artificial tree and have not looked back. I do miss that wonderful aroma when you walked in the door from the beautiful evergreens, and the artificial scents are not the same. But simpler is my theme these days, but I have wonderful memories of all those years.
Why the evergreen? I enjoyed reading why we began using Christmas trees, where the tradition began and how it came to America. I encourage you to do some reading on your own. The wonderful thing about the WWW is all the information at our fingertips. The History channel had a very complete history description on line, if you are interested.
"People have long viewed evergreen trees and shrubs as symbols of life and hope. These plants remain verdant through even the darkest, coldest months of the year." For Christians the evergreen is a reminder of eternal or everlasting life which is possible because of Jesus--whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. This almost makes me want to cut down a "real tree", but then---it would die--and somehow that seems counterintuitive.
I hope your halls are decked and waiting---as the day quickly approaches!
"So you'll go out in joy,
you'll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
no more thornbushes, but stately pines-
Monuments to me, to God,
living and lasting evidence of God."
Isaiah 55:12-13
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I do miss the smell of pine and spruce, Lulu, that's for sure. There is no substitute for it! May we always see the greens at Christmas as a symbol of the everlasting life God gives to us. Blessings!
ReplyDelete12The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
ReplyDeletethey will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” ❤️🙏🏼