So our Christmas tree…..
My husband and I went to get it by ourselves. The first time in many years that we are back to just the two of us. We decided to compromise on size – our children still wanting a very tall one, us wanting a much smaller one now.
We were quite happy, when on that cold and freezing night, we agreed on a tree quickly. The man trimmed the bottom for us. We threw it in the bed of the truck and home we went to place it in the stand to let it settle overnight before decorating it.
My husband had been in bed for about an hour, when from the family room, I heard the {{SHOOSH}}. It took me only a few seconds to realize the sound which I heard was the tree toppling over. I called for my husband to come help me get the tree back upright. We cleaned up the water. With the tree now repositioned in the stand, water refilled, we both went to bed.
For the next two days, I kid you not, all we did was reposition the tree.
It would seem straight, stand tall and upright. We’d turn our backs and the next time we looked at it, there it would be – crooked – again.
Seriously, no amount of repositioning could fix it. It did the same thing each and every time. It would stand straight for a few minutes and then suddenly shift in the stand and be leaning in one direction again.
It finally dawned on us that the problem was not the stand, nor the screws but the tree itself. When the man had trimmed the bottom, he had not made a straight and level cut. The problem was the tree was now fully decorated. No amount of convincing was going to get me to undecorate it so my husband could dispose of the tree and go buy a new one. I was not wasting my time nor my money. And so, we put our heads together to come up with a remedy we both could live with this Christmas.
“Put a shim under the base,” I suggested, to no avail. He was not having any part of it.
My husband was convinced that he could get it to stand straight properly. He tried everything he could think of but the tree continued to lean. And so, like I said, after two days of repositioning and playing with the tree, I once again suggested, “Put a shim under the base.” Which is what we finally tried.
And the tree has been standing straight since.
This whole Christmas tree experience brought back to mind an old Christmas song….
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. Thy leaves are so unchanging.
Something about a live Christmas tree reminds me of my God, Who does not change. Not ever. “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6, NLT).
A symbol of good will and love, You’ll ever be unchanging.
Our tree reminds me that our Savior, born that day, brings good will and peace and love and hope to an otherwise darkened world. “Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:14, NLT).
No other light spreads cheer so well.
I am so grateful that He spreads light into our darkened circumstances. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. (Isaiah 9:6, NLT).
Yes, it was most important to us that our Tree stand straight for our tree represents so much more in our hearts and minds.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHsgVmeKveo&w=560&h=315]
Today I am joining … Behind The Scenes and Time Travel Thurs. and Word Filled Wed. and Thoughtful Provoking Thurs. and Thurs. Favorite Things and Thankful Thurs. and Blog Lovin’ and Thriving Thurs. and Thrive at Home and Thoughtful Thurs. and Hearts For Home .
Joanne, your tree is lovely… thanks for sharing it with us. I loved reading Isaiah 9:6 in the NLT. I am so thankful that He is shining in the deep darkness today. That fills me with hope.
Thanks for linking up at Thought-Provoking Thursday today! 🙂
Thanks Lyli. I have often read that verse to mean even in the darkness of our circumstances. And yes, He sheds light there & brings hope. Always!
Joanne,
What a beautiful tree and I am happy that you were able to find a solution to your toppling tree…giving thanks to you for the Great Light Jesus shines in our lives 🙂
Dolly, I am happy that we were able to find a solution. I think otherwise, the tree would have come down in search of another. May His Light shine brighter in & through each one of us in 2014. Blessings!!!
Hi Joanne,
Your tree is beautiful 🙂
I’m so thankful that our Lord is unchanging, and His light brings us hope.
Joanne, I have to tell you, I am really behind in my emails and reading blogs I like. Finally tonight I sat down to read them and was pleasantly surprises to find so many of your posts saved to read for later. Made me realize how much I do enjoy your posts! You are a keeper!
Jean, thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me as you are always encouraging to me. May you & yours have a most blessed Christmas!
Joanne,
I appreciate the way you related your crooked Christmas tree to the fact that God changes NOT. What a beautiful and heartfelt blog on the reality of Christmas and Jesus! Christmas has been a challenge for me with the recent losses in our family. Every blog of yours I read brings me great encouragement.
God bless you and yours today and everyday!
Mare
I am so grateful that my posts have encouraged you, Mare. You have encouraged me so!
Thank you sweet friend for making me smile this morning! I love your tree and I’m so enjoying stories this year from others about their trees. I kindof love how no tree is perfect but we quickly fall in love them as we wait for His arrival. You bless me, Joanne. Love you.
It is so true, Beth, each tree is an individual expression of our lives. And that is truly what makes each tree so special! So grateful our tree brought a smile to your face. It took a bit before it brought a smile to ours, lol. And now, we’d have no other tree for what it has taught us! Amazing how that works 🙂
Lovely tree I am happy you were able to position it just right. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Wishing you a lovely weekend and a very Merry Christmas♥