Reflections from a Tree

Written by Keith Pittman

One of my favorite annual Christmas traditions is the selecting and decorating of the family Christmas tree. While most of the world is at the mall looking for Black Friday bargains, you’ll find my family up in the mountains hand picking and cutting down the perfect tree. For us, there’s just something extra special about “tree day” from the moment we load up in the car to go get it to the time we carefully position the very last ornament. Each moment of that day creates or brings back a unique sentimental family memory, but it also helps me remember what the season is all about

Once we pick our tree, the first thing I notice is its top that points upward toward the heaven from which Jesus came. I also notice that it is an evergreen. Unlike other trees, it remains full of life forever.  To me, that represents the eternal life that Jesus offers each one of us. And for those who believe, we are told in Revelation 22:14 that we will have the right to the tree of life forever.

After we get the tree home, my son Andrew and I have the job of getting it steady and straight in the stand. My wife Michelle is in charge of stringing the lights around the tree, mainly because I’m just no good at it. I stand in amazement each year as she carefully places each light in perfect symmetry without tangling a single cord. As I watch the lights go up, I’m reminded that Jesus told us himself in John 8:12 that He is the light of the world and anyone who believes in Him will not remain in darkness. After Michelle places that final light in just the right spot and I see the tree’s brilliant radiance, I’m reminded that not only is Jesus the light of the world, but His light is perfect.

I’ve always been amused by the fact that it seems that we have to decorate every inch of the tree – even the back part that is only seen by the wall. That’s where those “special” ornaments go, if you know what I mean.  Perhaps you also have a few of those. The fact that no spot on our tree goes bare just reminds me of what I think Jesus meant in Mark 16:14 when he commanded his followers to go into all the world and preach.  Just as my family leaves no spot bare on our Christmas tree, regardless of where it is, Jesus wants us to leave no part of the world, or even our own community, uncovered when it comes to sharing about Him and His love for us.

I also look at the presents under the tree. I never have been good at wrapping presents. My family is always amused by my pitiful attempts at wrapping and they always know which gifts are coming from me even without reading the tag. But when I look at my fairly primitive attempt at covering my gifts, I’m reminded of the swaddling clothes in which Mary wrapped the baby Jesus. They certainly weren’t stylish or pretty, but they served as the necessary protection for the greatest gift ever given.

The nice thing about gifts is that they are presented to the recipient absolutely free and completely paid for. They don’t have to be worked for or earned. They are given completely out of love. The presents under the tree remind me of God’s perfect gift of Jesus and the eternal life that He provides freely to all who will accept it. As we pass out those gifts to friends and family, I’m also reminded that God has given each of us other unique gifts that we are to share with those we know.  In 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV), we are told to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

As your family celebrates Christmas this year, I hope that everything you see and do will point back to Jesus and remind you of why we celebrate. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, KJV)