I am feeling just a bit melancholy on this last day of November; perhaps, it is not so much melancholy, but the soft surrender of mixed emotions this season often brings. As the greatest love story of our lives is about to unfold at Christmas, there are the subtle notes of love songs that play within our hearts. It is like listening to someone play the cello out in the deep woods. You hear the music from a faraway place and you try to come closer. But, you can only come but so close. You hear the birds, the crunch of broken sticks beneath your feet. The song you hear is surely that of love…And suddenly you know that the song is forever. You know it includes all those you have ever loved…some are with you, and some have moved to higher ground. Some are simply beyond your line of vision. They are in the deep woods of your life. They are part of who you are and what you will someday be. The music plays on…restless, yet peaceful at the same time. For so it is with love; the story goes on and on.
We have been going through my mother’s things in an effort to get her house ready to be sold. She can no longer live alone. The last of the things are the Christmas boxes, which contain the ornaments from our childhood Christmas tree. It is a box full of memories, the remnants of tattered handmade crafts, antique ornaments from my grandmother’s day, and little wooden manger scenes. I am little again, the child who was so full of imagination. I am that little girl who played beneath the Christmas tree and made little houses in the branches. My ‘friend’ ornaments went visiting house to house…
“Do you remember that girl?” I ask my mother. She nods and smiles at the remembrance. She remembers that I liked a little skier ornament in particular. (My little skier went all around the tree.) Then, on a more reflective note, she adds, “I think that girl is still there!”
“Do you think so?” I tease. I wonder if the child in me is really alive and well this particular season. My mother, however, is adamant. She smiles again and in a knowing way says, “I know she is.”
It has been a hectic Thanksgiving season, but a joyful one as well. My children and grandchildren were all together to decorate the tree at our house on Thanksgiving day. My mother has been with us in these recent weeks and she enjoyed seeing the little ones so excited about the tree trimming. She seemed so much happier with the pitter-patter of little feet prancing about.
Children understand intuitively that Christmas is about love, joy, and giving. They understand that the ‘magic’ of Christmas is love itself. It was a beautiful thing to see the little ones helping their great-grandmother find her slippers, or bring her a little Christmas chocolate. They liked being part of all the family activities, young and old gathered together, working together, celebrating life.
After the children had gone home, I adjusted some of the ornaments. The little ones had left ornaments dangling here and there, and some of the ornaments were clumped all on one branch. Really, the children’s idea of decorating a tree is very much like real life; sometimes, we are so excited that we ‘dump’ all of our energy into one thing, and sometimes, we leave some branches empty because we run out of time and interest in a given project.
It got me thinking about the ‘lonely branches’ in our lives, the things we have set aside that need tending to, and the people we need to reach out to that may need us.
God gives us many gifts, people to love, memories to cherish. Soon, it will be Christmas, and the magic we knew as children is still alive and well within our hearts. We may no longer be children, but we are God’s children, and that is a miraculous and wonderful thing!
Joy is the very thing that bubbles up within us when we focus on God’s love. It is not about perfect branches or creating a perfect life. What makes the branches lovely is their imperfections; what makes a good life is celebrating all of it, both the good times, and the hard patches.
If we look at our lives in the same way we look at our Christmas trees, we see that we need a good dose of forgiveness. There are the inevitable bare spots, or maybe a crooked tree trunk. But, once the lights are put on and everything starts to glow, we forget the not so good things. All we see is the light, and there is a great peace in that.
Some days of our lives are better than others; some days seem close to heaven on earth. Other days we struggle and we can’t seem to figure out why things go the way they do. There will always be some stormy seas, some waves crashing upon our shoreline of dreams.
However, it does so happen that the more we spread that Christmas ‘magic’ of love, the more the branches of our trees fill out beautifully. Suddenly, we notice all that sparkling light, all that glitter from the Christmas star rebounding back at us.
I think that what makes a Christmas tree so beautiful is that the branches reach out. It is a lovely thing to think about…how the branches of our lives reach out into the world, full of greenery and resplendent love.
We carry the light into the deep woods and we listen for the love song that plays within our hearts. Our love story will never end…
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Seriously, this is one of the nicest Christmas posts I’ve ever read….It really spoke to me. Thank you for that! May all of us learn to see the beauty in the imperfections and to reach out in love!
Love is the most important thing…at Christmas and always. It is not about being perfect; it is about living the life God has asked for us to live. It is full of surprises and unexpected joys. We don’t have to have everything figured out ahead of time. 🙂
My dad would get our Christmas tree the Saturday before Christmas to align with the end of Advent. By that time, only the scraggly trees were left on the lot. We sure did love those Charlie Brown Christmas trees.
How beautiful is that…what a happy and wonderful memory to hold close to the heart. You were so very blessed…love that overflowed, branches held by faith and family.
It certainly is. To this day, I am so grateful for the happy childhood my parents gave me.
A happy childhood is a blessing! You have shared many magical moments…
🙂
Just lovely, Linda.
Thank you! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! You are always an inspiration…I look forward to reading your posts and I always learn something new, about family and about life.
“Love came down at Christmas…”
Yes! That is the most important thing to remember! Nothing else in this world compares to the gift God has given us at Christmas…it is everything!
A wonderful reflection of time past and a brilliant thought on the idea of “lonely branches.” When we look back, as we all do as the years pass, there is so many memories that come to mind when special events occur. Christmas is especially memorable. Your post reminded me that when we engage with others today, we are building their memories that will remain in their thoughts in the years ahead. My parents gave me the gift of joyful memories, even though they may involve difficult and complex moments in my life. My hope is that I do the same for those who come after me. Sending hugs along with my thanks.
I send you many hugs dear Rebecca as you are a soul that inspires so much joy!!! Your readings illuminate much light and so much love…You are a blessing! I can’t begin to imagine all the branches you have bestowed with joy. I only know that the deep woods would be lonely without you in it! Thank you for being who you are, for being such a bright light in this world. Your parents raised a most beautiful daughter…no easy feat. 🙂
a heart-warming post to remind us of the true meaning of love, faith, forgiveness and family 🙂
The emotions of the heart run deep…but forgiveness seems to top the list every time!!! Only forgiveness frees us from pain, only forgiveness allows us to start again.
and each time we grow, kinder and wiser 🙂
Yes! You are so right! 🙂
Linda, this post is perhaps the most beautiful writing I have ever read for the season…..no kidding. My heart sang as I read, and on occasion by eyes filled with tears. You have captured the wonder of the human spirit at Christmas time. The past, the present, and Christmases yet to come. I’m sharing this! It’s too beautiful to horde. Thank you!! God bless you and your family, and your mother as she leaves her home.
i am deeply touched by your comment…I love that your heart sang! I believe so deeply that it is God’s wish for our lives… for our hearts to sing. I believe that He does bring music to our souls. The world keeps us so very busy, and sometimes we forget to listen. We are only human, after all. I believe that He longs for us to know joy in the midst of the world in which we live…I wish you blessings at Christmas and always!
That’s quite a reflection you captured Linda. A love song in the deep woods, forever. I’m with Mary and Ann on this.
I understand the end of the year melancholy feelings wrapped up in past year reflections, busyness of the season and taking time for Eternal things almost within my minds reach. I put the last of my moms mile markers in the memory box 8 years ago and dads 2. I’m glad God’s love song overcomes time and all mile markers.
Yes! The eternal time clock is far superior to anything we know here upon the earth! Thank God for that. Thanks to Him, time keeps clicking away in melodious ways…one stroke of love at a time! We can trust His timepiece…no worries there. Our beloveds are safe. It makes the mile markers a whole lot more beautiful…
Linda, this is the perfect post to read at the beginning of the advent season. You’ve shared many thoughts in which I’ll return to and ponder as part of my advent devotions and reflections. Thank you for this gift.
Happy first day of December! I wish you blessings in this Advent season…In the quiet moments we seem to find so much abundance and joy.
Such wonderful memories! 💖
Yes! 🙂 🙂 🙂
This is such a beautiful post. It moved me to tears. Thank you for sharing. God bless you 💛
Thank you! God bless you also, and may this season bring you much joy. Happy first day of December! 🙂
You’re welcome! May you be blessed and filled with peace too! 💛
🙂 🙂 🙂
“lonely branches in our lives…” What a great analogy!
Something to think about for sure…:)
A beautiful post. I can imagine it was really hard, going through your Mother’s things for her to move out. Those Christmas trees are beautiful too!
It is hard going through a great deal of personal belongings and helping another decide what to part with. At the same time, it is a beautiful thing. You celebrate a lifetime of memories through cards, letters, photographs, and memorabilia. You come to see how a person’s lifetime that spans almost ninety years has ‘lived much’, ‘loved much’, and changed the world in their own unique way. It also makes you realize that there is no time like the present for making memories of your own! 🙂
A beautiful Christmas post, Linda. I love the holiday excitement and could related to the grandchildren lining up the ornaments on one branch. Your metaphor for the tree is lovely. I could also relate to the cherished memories of childhood Christmases that live in each ornament. Last year my daughter and I went through mine, and she took a lot of them home… thankfully. The traditions continue through the generations, and that’s heartwarming. <3
It is amazing the symbolism we find with Christmas ornaments…how they stir our hearts in remembrance. How wonderful you shared so many special ornaments with your daughter. She too, will honor both the past and the present with your gift. The family Christmas tree is so much more beautiful when the ornaments span many generations. I have ornaments from my grandmother’s tree. It makes me happy to think about that. 🙂
Me too, Linda. I notice my grandson starting to “remember” his favorite ornaments year to year. It’s lovely.
It is such a beautiful thing! 🙂
I love the analogies you drew from Christmas trees, Linda, especially about the lights: “All we see is the light, and there is a great peace in that.” I’ve lived long enough to see my past with the “glow” of God’s light covering a multitude of imperfections–sins forgiven, mistakes redeemed, failures rectified, etc. Praise Him for his faithfulness and goodness!
Thank you Nancy for your wonderful comment! I often think of snow in the same way…it covers the earth in beauty and all the leaves I could not get raked up in time!!! 🙂 God’s love covers us like that beautiful snow in a blanket of pure forgiveness. How blessed we are; snowflakes of heavenly bliss sent to soften our rough edges, cleanse us, and make us whole.
BEAUTIFUL thoughts about snow, Linda! Perhaps the beginnings of another blog post?!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Linda, your writing always touches the human senses in blessed ways. Especially at this time of year, family seems to take center stage. Blessings to yours this Christmas season as we celebrate a special family birth.
Thank you so very much…I deeply appreciate your comment! I wish you and your family Christmas blessings…the peace and joy that only the Christ child can bring.
Such a beautiful message of love, Linda. Wishing you and yours the very happiest of holidays!
Wishing you the best also…and blessings in the New Year!
Thank you so much!❤️
You really grabbed me with the image of the lonely branches. I was brought up by parents who tended to those. We were the ones visiting great great aunts and widows of grandpa’s cousins regularly. Of course as a child I gained so much from this and have such wonderful memories of people born in the 1800s. My husband and I have continued this although it’s letters and phone calls because we moved so far away. Sadly this meant my kids didn’t grow up with that tending in the same way.
Wishing you all good things in the New Year! It is awesome that you grew up with a family that showed so much love and compassion. I am sure it rubbed off on your children through shared memories and stories. That is why it is so important to share these stories. That way, each generation learns from the one that came before.
Lovely sentiments, Linda. Wishing you warm blessings during this season of light. 🌞
Thank you! I wish you the same…it is almost time to welcome a New Year! 🙂
There’s more than one thing to tuck into my heart from this post (gosh, how did I miss it?) but more than anything, I sense God speaking through your post, reminding me to slow down and cherish life. My children are now old enough to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. It is not a big tree but it carries upon itself all the colours we love and associate with Christmas – gold, silver, red and that very special turquoise blue which for me means Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast we Catholics celebrate on December 12. There will come a time when there will be fewer and fewer hands to decorate the tree as each one begins to leave home to start a new life. Although the day seems very far off, it is also almost upon us. That is how life surprises us. And one day, when all have left, life will go back to what it was before, and my husband and I will put up the tree and decorate it ourselves again, reminding each other of a hundred do-you-remember’s. I don’t want that day to ever come but it must if God wills it so. Yet, even in the poverty of that coming sadness, I know I will be rich for all the memories I carry with me.
Each season of life brings its own joy. I loved raising our own four children. Now, on Thanksgiving day all the little grandchildren decorate the tree with us. I cannot begin to tell you how much pure joy there is in seeing your grown children with families of their own. Nothing in this world could have prepared me for this wonderful time. God’s blessings unfold in due time…as you say, surprises we do not expect. ( Our grandchildren are young…the youngest not yet a year old, two two-year-olds, one four-year-old, and one eight year old.) Your tree sounds beautiful!!!