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As Preached from the Pulpit
December 14, 2014 is a day that will not easily be forgotten in the Cesarz – Texas Edition- household. We went to church as we usually did and found ourselves cringing, okay maybe I found myself cringing while Alex and Shannon looked knowingly at me as the, I’m sure well meaning, pastor basically lambasted our family. I’ve sat through sermons in churches where it felt like the pastor was specifically calling out a parishioner for some offending behavior. I never really liked that approach and often wondered if it worked. Did the intended recipient hear the message that was being bellowed from the pulpit and instantly repent and change his (or her) heretical ways? In this case, the answer is a resounding No.
What great transgression had we committed? Why would God smite us if we didn’t change our evil ways? We aren’t saints, so the list could actually be longer than I’d like to think, but this particular day we were informed that our Christmas tree and our subscription to Southern Living was a problem. Yes, the preacher decided to take issue with those of us that have coordinated wrapping paper and strive for Southern Living approved decorations. I know there was a greater point to her story, but the key point she made was her broken Christmas ornament that was a result of some Christmas tree mishap was good… Matching ribbon was bad.
Our tree is largely filled with Precious Moments and Hallmark ornaments. They are mostly ornaments I have been collecting since I was in elementary school and characters the girls love, This means they also happen to be mostly “people” including a large number of doe-eyed angles, mini-American Girl dolls, and Madam Alexander representations of your favorite literary characters. As a result, Alex often refers to it as a “hanging tree”. To be sure that his adored Phillip Rivers ornament is not subject to the implied fate, Philip is often found hanging around the nativity scene. Looking back on pictures of our tree from6 years ago, I can say it was too small for the space, needed bigger balls and baubles to help fill it out, and definitely could have used more ribbon. It was by no means perfect, and the tree we currently have still wouldn’t make the cover of Southern Living, but it’s getting closer.
I love our tree! Not because it’s a work of art, but because it’s our tree. The pastor preaching that memorable Sunday might not look at it in and think it’s filled with memories because it doesn’t have the requisite popsicle stick snowflake, but she would be mistaken. It does have Hallmark Joy ornaments that hung on our tree when I was little, a yellow tonka dump truck because apparently I whacked my mom in the head with mine when I was 3. It has an “Our First Christmas” ornament that still has the stock photo that came with it. Every year we say, “We really need to change that photo,” It has Alex’s shark ornament, the only ornament he brought with him, and Elsa, and Molly, Madeline, Jo, Beth, and Meg…Our tree isn’t perfect, but it’s perfect for us.
To the pastor that Sunday, I don’t want to tell her that her tree is wrong. I know that with its broken ornaments, popsicle stick snowflakes, and mismatched packages it’s perfect for her.
There are enough polarizing things in the world, the way we choose to celebrate Christmas shouldn’t be one of them. The differences and the unique ways families find to share and celebrate this season is part of what makes it so magical. I am fascinated by the vast number of differences that we have surrounding the very common traditions we all share. I have always loved Christmas and the traditions we have built around it.
I love you and I love your tree! I love that you change your tree every year. I love that your ornaments were gathered on trips that you took, that they were special presents from students, and that you have every handmade ornament your children ever brought home!
As the Christmas season reaches its peak and frenzy, I hope you have time to sit and take in the beauty of your tree and the peace of the season it represents.