The other day we went on our annual Christmas tree cutting outing. We get all bundled up and walk for hours around this beautiful tree farm. We each have very different opinions of what our tree should look like. My dad wants a perfect looking tree that is small enough that it doesn’t need to be nailed down to the ground (which we have had to do when my opinion won out). My mom wants a tall tree. My brother Andy and his girlfriend Kelly look for a fat tree that can fit inside their house. My brother Eric tries to keep the peace while we all argue on which tree will come home with us. I like the tallest fattest tree we can find. If it were up to me I would remove all the couches in the living room, go without TV for a month and have a giant thirteen foot tree in the middle of the room. My dad assures me this is not possible, but I’m not fully convinced yet.
As we look for our tree this year its bitter sweet for me. I tried thinking about what my Christmas will be like next year. I won’t be out in the cold looking for a Christmas tree with my family. Or stringing up colorful lights. I won’t be putting up excessive amounts of Santa’s on our fire place mantel. The truth is I have no idea what the holiday season will be like for me next year. There is one thing that I know will be the same as home, next Christmas will be centered around Jesus and the gift he brought. So instead of worrying about the traditions I will be missing next year I will focus on the joy this season brings me and the new traditions I will create with my race family.
