Has your life been a  frenzy of shopping and decorating for the last few weeks? 
So what does it all mean, putting up a tree, buying presents, decorating with red and gold and blue and white? Is there purpose and meaning in our frenzy?

Putting up the tree can be a family time filled with traditions – Baby’s First Ornament, hand-made ornaments, and great grandma’s Victorian ornaments. But it can also be so hurried we miss the traditions and the meanings behind the decorations. 

Nostalgia fills the air as we settle down in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and gaze at the sparkling tree. But WAIT! Did we miss the point? What have we instilled in our traditions to show our families the true meaning of Christmas? 

Instilling the true meaning shouldn’t sound like some sort of lesson. A natural mention of how the items and colors remind you of Jesus and His love for us is the most effective way to instill meaning. 
  There are various meanings associated with Christmas. What meanings?

The Decorations

• Red – The color of blood. 
• Gold – The Wisemen brought Jesus gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
• Blue – The color of royalty. Jesus is King of Kings. 
• White – The color of purity. Jesus was without sin. 
• Wisemen followed a star. 
• Angels announced His birth. 
• Ribbons held the breastplate to the ephod on the robe of the high priest. 
• Bells were sown around the hem of the priest’s robe so all could hear him as he performed his priestly duties. Jesus is our High Priest.

The Tree

• The tree is made of wood. Christ shed His blood on a cross made of wood. 
• The evergreen needles tell us that Jesus gives us eternal life. 
• The trunk and the branches lead us back to our scripture: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
• We display our Christmas trees where all can see their beauty. So shouldn’t Jesus be displayed in our lives that all can see His beauty? 
• We want to receive gifts. May all the world come to Jesus this Christmas and receive His gift of salvation. 

What else?
What intentional things are you doing to put Christ in your Christmas? 
You don’t have to do anything more, only think about the reason you are 

• making cookies
• the places you are decorating
• using decorations

Is there anything that surprises you? 

May there be Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. 

Merry Christmas — Gail Cartee

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