Values Blog
Christmas Tree
For most families, once Christmas Day has passed, the decorations are put away and the house is cleared of any reference to Jesus or His birthday.
Very few of us keep our tree up all year long—especially if it is a cut tree. The falling needles and fire hazard, along with the disruption to the room layout, is reason enough to toss—shall I say, carry—your tree outside and properly dispose of it.
A fellow in Germany took that behavior to an extreme. He decided to throw his Christmas tree out of his apartment window to the street below. Things turned ugly when the man tumbled out of his window with his Christmas tree to the ground below.
He survived the 22 feet fall, but did receive, as you might imagine, fairly serious injuries.
While it may be a rather tragic story, in perhaps a convoluted way it is a reminder that in our haste to clean up because the official Christmas season has drawn to a close, it is important to leave room for Jesus in your home and your life.
I realized after Christmas that we put out the “manger scene” in the midst and in the hubbub of the rest of the seasonal decorations. My wife and I decided that next Christmas we are setting up the crèche and the related elements before anything else so as to stress to our family—and to ourselves—early on that it is all about Jesus.
There is value to keeping that thing we call the “Christmas spirit” around. And I’m not talking about that pungent holiday candle your co-worker gave you last year.
Comments
1
I agree, for me it is a shame to hear so much Joyfull noise…until the festivities come to an end.
It seems that the only other time we hear of Jesus anymore is when a school or Church or individual is beeing sued by the ACLU for believing in Christ and wanting to share the Glory of that belief with others!
posted at 12:44pm on February 14, 2008 by Chuck Riley
2
It is a shame how people forget about Jesus when X-Mas is over. But what about the “Christmas Tree Christians”? They sit on front row of every Baptist Church. When you get a cut Christmas tree, you put in a stand and give it water. After awhile, the tree gets dry but still pretty on the outside. Scratch the bark off and it is dead. Pretty on the outside and dead on the inside. So it is with “Christmas Tree Christians” who do not get fed the living water, are pretty on the outside sitting on the front row, but are dead on the inside. These people are not happy and have no joy in life. This makes me very sad for the them. Remember always the LIVING WATER.
posted at 4:43pm on February 15, 2008 by Dr Don Howe
3
The fall of your “Xmas Tree Christians” is the fault of all of ours!
Until I found a Church, Pastor and community that didnt care if you kneeled 1000 times. Didnt care if the only pants you owned were worn out jeans…Because They preached the Word of God! Only THEN did I know!
They told me that God would ALWAYS do His part…I only had to do mine…Love Him!
Those who are only going through the steps simply have not been told about the Path of Christ that we must all walk and to give thanks to God, for every little step!
They have NOT been told how His Word relates directly to OUR everyday lives…EVEN In 2008!
NO!!! The Xmas Christians WANT to know and to love Christ….But “YOU” have not yet shown them the way!
Chuck
posted at 6:15pm on February 15, 2008 by Chuck Riley