What’s Unique About You?
Under the odd but true category,
I wonder,
What’s unique about you?
I had every intention of taking down my
Christmas tree before Easter …
I really did!
but …
it’s still up …
and lit.
Yup, up and lit.
And, yes, I know it’s weird.
I’m always the last one on the block
to dismantle the tree,
but we had such a mild winter this year,
I just kept thinking that I would have more snowy landscapes to enjoy
from my front window as I sipped warm beverages,
listening to Christmas music in the glow of my Christmas tree.
December gave way to January, and I thought,
Whatever, just one more week and I’ll take it down.
But I never did take it down!
We laughed about
having it up on Valentine’s Day.
By St. Patrick’s Day,
I was used to it.
When the kid’s came over for Easter and said,
“Mom, the neighbors are going to think you’re nuts,”
I thought, It might be time,
but I was too busy breaking my
Lenten television fast to deal with it.
(Easter Sunday with Mr. 4-Ever)
So, here we are,
the week after Easter
and my tree is still up.
And you know what?
I’m owning it.
It’s not that I was too busy
to take it down.
It’s not that
I didn’t know any better.
I have thoroughly enjoyed
the twinkling Christmas tree lights
as I pray in the pre-dawn quiet.
The collection of ornaments
remind me of many happy moments
when my children were
young and with me at home.
I want to remember the
joy and generosity
of Christmas.
We are each unique.
Maybe your thing is
taking the tree down on 12/26.
Maybe it’s having blue hair.
Maybe it’s homeschooling.
Maybe it’s training to run marathons.
Each of us has a thing
that delights us and
brings us joy
or satisfaction.
A thing that
uniquely exhibits
who we are as God’s Child.
A thing unique to you!
What lacks appeal for me
like blue hair,
homeschooling,
or running anywhere
might be just the thing that
draws you closer to God.
There are spiritual disciplines
like Bible reading
prayer walks,
Bible Study,
and
quiet times,
that are important to integrate
into our schedule
for our spiritual growth.
Let’s also leave open the possibility
of experiencing God
as we delight in the things
he created to
bring us unexpected joy.
Without judging others or
“shoulding” on yourself,
embrace what your unique thing is.
What is your unique or peculiar
(but delightful)
activity or idiosyncrasy
that exhibits who you are in God
or draws you closer to him?
One of mine is
just happens to be
leaving the Christmas tree up
until … until later.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)
Good for you, Robyn! Merry Christmas! ?
Blessings in Christ,
Marie
AMEN……I feel the same about the tree and have left mine up as late as Valentines Day before. Mostly because I don’t have the time or energy to take it down but I always loved to sit in the living room in the dark with it on at night…..so pretty and peaceful. And like you said, to look at the ornaments and think of the days gone by when the kids were small and liked to hang their very favorite ornament on the tree. Good times…and besides….who cares anyway? I am sure God is looking at more important things than who does not get their tree down in a timely fashion! MORE POWER TO YOU MY DEAR. And thank you for the news letters. Always enjoy them. God bless you in all you do.
Blessings,
Elda
Thanks Elda!Nice to know a kindred spirit. I appreciate your encouragement!
On time I left up my tree for a whole year. When people would make comments I said, “We celebrate Jesus all year long!” And the next December was wonderful because the tree was already up and decorated!
This really cracked me up–totally unexpected from someone who said she has her spices alphabetized and closet coordinated by color and sleeve length (I’ve bought your dvds and so know this!). But, I think it’s great! And I look forward to putting up my Christmas tree for the very reasons you listed. So go ahead own it–and maybe it’s not so weird to have a tree at Easter–Don’t poets call the cross a tree? 🙂