Imperfect Fake Christmas Tree
“Stop.”
“Don’t touch that.”
“You’re clumping them all together.”
“Slow down.”
“Spread the ornaments out more.”
“I want it to look nice.”
Bing Crosby played in the background, the fireplace created a lovely glow and added to the ambiance, and I sounded like an obsessive compulsive person sucking the fun out of the room.
I sat down annoyed at my comments, telling myself that it wasn’t about perfection. It wasn’t about having a “pretty tree.” It was about the moment we were sharing together. A moment of memories being placed onto a piece of plastic which resembled a tree.
It’s funny how quickly the meaning and reason for this season can become lost. Lost in the hustle and bustle. Lost in decorating. Lost in the “to do’s,” lost in WHO this season is actually about. This season isn’t about creating perfection, but celebrating the one who IS Perfect. It made me think of that night over 2000 years ago. That imperfect night ~ or so it would seem.
I wonder what Mary must have been thinking and processing. I highly doubt giving birth, in what we would consider a barn, was a part of her birth plan. She probably didn’t even have a plan. It was just Plan A: get baby out! She didn’t have a doula or birthing coach. She had her husband and some cows, maybe a goat, and some sheep cheering her on. There was no playlist, no bathtub to soak in or epidural to sooth the pain of childbirth. But there was a Promise. A promise that the son she was giving birth to would be the Savior of the world. An imperfect and broken world filled with people like me. Broken. Imperfect. Messy. And in need of Savior.
While the traditions we have adopted as a part of the Christmas season may be lovely, it’s not what this season is about. It’s about the imperfect, the broken, the messy, and a Savior who came to redeem, restore, and give a gift none of us will ever be able nor need to match. A free gift He gave and still gives.
I am so grateful that this season is SO MUCH MORE than decorating a tree. But while we do decorate our trees, enjoy the traditions this holiday bring, I pray we remember what it’s about. Not the imperfection we bring to the table, but the Perfection Jesus brings to a broken and hurting world.
