Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

This year our Christmas tree was a bit neglected. Usually I can't wait to decorate the tree and enjoy taking the time to reminisce about old ornaments and hang them in just the right places. I used to LOVE Christmas decorations and putting them everywhere. This year was different. It was the first year of the divorce and I just didn't feel like doing any of the preparations for the holiday. It all just seemed too hard and too emotional. Thanks to a good friend who came over with her son and guided the tree decorating a week before Christmas. She and my girls did the vast majority of ornament hanging and I gladly took charge of making sure the kids had an ample supply of snacks. When they were all done, I stepped back and knew it was the best tree I had seen in a long time. It was just perfect! The kids had hung most of the ornaments and tinsel so there were very few things higher up on the tree, they were mostly all gathered at the bottom with chunks of tinsel throughout. I asked for help, rather than forcing myself to struggle through it on my own, and received some amazing, precious gifts - humility, a deepening friendship, a beautiful tree, companionship, and two proud little girls beaming with accomplishment.

Fast forward to January................. now I don't want to take the tree down. I just plain don't feel like it. The tree has been up so long that I hardly notice it anymore. Maybe if I leave it alone long enough the tree fairy will come and take it away! Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I'm happy to say that it was without ornaments  by February 1st, but truth be told it is still out and has to be put away. Thankfully I have a deadline of Saturday to get it all put away because I am having people over and need the space, so I know it will get done by then. My point in sharing this is that everything will happen when it is supposed to. I don't need to stress and struggle, nor try to keep up with everyone else. I just need to take care of myself and be content in running my race. There is no one "right" way to do things, let's face it there are many ways to skin a cat. How important is it that my tree get up and down by certain dates? Had you asked me that question a few years ago, I probably would have told you it was very important. Thankfully, today I feel differently. Instead of driving myself to emotional distress and insanity over a Christmas tree, I chose to relax and go with the flow knowing that everything would get taken care of when it was supposed to. I chose to step out of the "rules" and rigid ways of thinking that I have often been trapped in.

I will miss this tree that I didn't want to put up. But mostly I am grateful for the lessons it has taught me this holiday season. It is amazing how God uses simple things in my daily life to speak and develop profound truths in me. Thank you Lord for speaking to me and the ability to hear your voice.