Growing up, we always had an artificial tree. While they’re beautiful, and I have fond memories of dragging it out of the attic every year and fluffing it’s pointy branches, I have come to appreciate and adore our new tradition as a family. Together, we choose a tree, chop it down, and plant it in our living room to admire through the Christmas holiday.
Few may choose the prickly cedar tree. However, it has become the one we gravitate towards. Probably because they’re unwanted nuisances in the yard. Mostly because they’re aromatic, easy to spruce up, and quick to adorn with our favorite ornaments.
The cedar tree symbolizes strength, eternity, and endurance. Poets from around the world have written about this simple conifer for centuries. In the late 19th century, author John Worcester compared the structure of the cedar tree to the process of attaining successively higher natural and spiritual knowledge, writing, “The spiritual tree also must extend its branches, put forth leaves, and mature its fruits on successively interior planes of the mind.” He also elaborated on the scent of the cedar wood, indicating the pleasure people find from discovering knowledge and truth.
Our family loves a Christmas tree. Not because of Pagan traditions. But because of what we want it to represent. To us, the lights on our tree represent the light of God’s spirit. The warmth from those lights can also be visualized as the warmth and love that we have for each other. The chopping down of the tree can be represented as Christ dying on the cross. When we place it in our home, we see it as Christ being resurrected again and taking abode in our hearts. While we don’t have room for a star this year, we love to top it with just that, a symbol of the star of Bethlehem, leading all those who believed that their Messiah was born to save the world.
Our cedar tree isn’t exceptionally beautiful. It’s lacking several branches on one side. The branches are spindly and have a hard time holding our heavier ornaments. But it’s something that represents us well. We aren’t perfect creatures. Neither is this tree. But God made us and it just so and for that we are thankful.
We hope that you and yours have a beautiful Christmas season. Remember the reason. And hold those that mean the dearest to you oh so close. Cherish the moments, big and small.
Few may choose the prickly cedar tree. However, it has become the one we gravitate towards. Probably because they’re unwanted nuisances in the yard. Mostly because they’re aromatic, easy to spruce up, and quick to adorn with our favorite ornaments.
The cedar tree symbolizes strength, eternity, and endurance. Poets from around the world have written about this simple conifer for centuries. In the late 19th century, author John Worcester compared the structure of the cedar tree to the process of attaining successively higher natural and spiritual knowledge, writing, “The spiritual tree also must extend its branches, put forth leaves, and mature its fruits on successively interior planes of the mind.” He also elaborated on the scent of the cedar wood, indicating the pleasure people find from discovering knowledge and truth.
Our family loves a Christmas tree. Not because of Pagan traditions. But because of what we want it to represent. To us, the lights on our tree represent the light of God’s spirit. The warmth from those lights can also be visualized as the warmth and love that we have for each other. The chopping down of the tree can be represented as Christ dying on the cross. When we place it in our home, we see it as Christ being resurrected again and taking abode in our hearts. While we don’t have room for a star this year, we love to top it with just that, a symbol of the star of Bethlehem, leading all those who believed that their Messiah was born to save the world.
Our cedar tree isn’t exceptionally beautiful. It’s lacking several branches on one side. The branches are spindly and have a hard time holding our heavier ornaments. But it’s something that represents us well. We aren’t perfect creatures. Neither is this tree. But God made us and it just so and for that we are thankful.
We hope that you and yours have a beautiful Christmas season. Remember the reason. And hold those that mean the dearest to you oh so close. Cherish the moments, big and small.
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