Look beyond the tree, ornaments for the hope of Christmas

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Ev’rywhere you go;

There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,

The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow.”

A treasured iconic symbol of Christmas decor is an evergreen tree. White Pine, Frazier Fir, Norway Spruce, are among the 25-30 million Christmas trees cut and sold in the US according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

Holiday sparkles from a tree embellished with lights, ornaments, and tinsel if you must, help to deck the halls during the season of Christmas and also during the long months of the winter solstice, the darkest time of the year.

In the home where I grew up there was always a tree on display at Christmastime. I remember going to Johnson’s Tree Farm in Sponaugle subdivision on a warm day of summer to pick out what would be the focal point in the living room during the most wonderful time of the year.

My dad wasn’t a patient man, so after countless disagreements of a family affair he brought the bickering to an abrupt halt. He made the final decision. A fluffy, full, white pine. Tag, you’re it.

Just a few days before Christmas dad would drive back to the farm, show his paid-in-full receipt, cut down the tree, and haul it home. Sap, and all.

He had the arduous task of bringing the tree inside, putting it in a stand, and placing it precisely at the middle of the picture window in the living room of our house.

My mom took the honor of stringing up the lights — but just because dad didn’t want the humdrum job. I have a feeling that had she allowed us kids to do it — dad would have strung us all up.

Bonding with those I love was always in its finest array when it came time to hang the ornaments. Arguing took on new meaning as me and my siblings claimed ownership of the ornaments we each wanted to hang. ‘Tis the season.

A tree-trimming party is guaranteed to bring out the jolliest of moods. My mom got her tinsel in a tangle more than once over the infectious enthusiasm us Whos of Whoville exemplified to one another. Oh, the love. love, love.

Speaking of tinsel. It was literally a tossup as to who could land the most hammered strands of silver on the branches. Standing back and observing our efforts would have made the ole’ fat man in the red suit proud. Mission accomplished. Job well-done.

Fast forward a few years to Christmas 1987. Recently married, Daniel and I began a tradition that we knew would make the season of Christmas in our home merrier and brighter.

Joining with the Higgins’ clan, sometimes hours before Christmas Eve, we traveled to Alpine Tree Farm near Sam Black Church, W.Va. I have fond memories of trekking through the woods in knee-deep snow with the dearest of friends to find and cut the perfect Norway Spruce for our small abode.

Measure twice, cut once. I recommend knowing ahead of time the height of your ceilings and the height of the tree prior to chopping it down. There were a few years that our centerpiece had to be shortened a few inches.

I don’t advise cutting off branches from the top. A fully-decorated Christmas bush isn’t as appealing but how lovely were the branches. Good job, Clark.

Alpine Tree Farm remained our go-to for many years. Our family grew from two to five over a span of 11 years so the process of getting the job done became an all-out feat. Oh, what fun!

My husband always brought the tree inside, put it in a stand and placed it in front of a window for all to see.

I think it was Christmas 1996 when I had a wonderful, awful idea. The Fraizer Fir that we bought from Boy’s Home at the last minute was positioned in a small tin bucket filled with a few rocks. Lights, ornaments, popcorn, red berries. Perfect. Just perfect.

During the night, I heard such a clatter that I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the living room I flew like a flash and picked up broken ornaments and threw them in the trash. The bucket was an awful idea.

I love what seems to be magic nestled between the branches of an evergreen, but when Christmas celebrations are over and the ornaments and lights are packed away, life will resume its normalcy once again.

There was no magic over 2,000 years ago when the virgin Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world. Light flooded the fields of Bethlehem as Jesus entered the world fully man and fully God. The glory of the Lord shined ever so brightly.

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,’” Luke 2:10, 11 ESV.

Christmas brings hope.

Merry Christmas!