14 Days to Christmas. Friday, Dec 11, 2020.

Are You Real or Fake?

The Christmas Tree is one of the most beloved symbols of Christmas . A poll published a few days ago indicates that 77% of American households will put up a Christmas Tree this year. Of those who are planning to put up a tree this year, a little over half (53%) reported that they will be putting up an artificial tree this year. What about you? Are you putting up a tree this year, and, if so, are you real or fake?

Yes, I agree. It sounds like this author is favoring a “real” tree, which, of course, would be an accurate assumption. When I was a child, some of my most favorite memories include the fresh scent of the Christmas tree. As an adult, I never forgot that smell. Each year, I seek out a fresh-cut tree and I spend a month caring for the tree by misting it with water every day. It takes time and attention, but I can usually keep it alive for at least a month.

I have lots of friends who favor an artificial tree. The ease of putting it up, the lack of dead needles when they take it down, and the multitude of instant lights are just a few of the advantages. For businesses, the artificial tree is a necessity. It’s a cheap and easy way to convince customers and employees that Christmas is important.

It’s difficult to imagine Christmas without our trees, but Christmas trees have only been part of our American tradition for a hundred years. Until that time, Santa put the gifts in the stockings and around the fireplace. Once the trees arrived, it allowed Santa more flexibility and more space to leave larger gifts. No wonder the Christmas Tree tradition became so popular. Once our earlier generations recognized that larger gifts became possible, it became an easy choice to install a Christmas Tree in the house.

It’s interesting to see how much God continues to bless us with our traditions, regardless of how they originated. Take a moment to think about your fondest Christmas-tree related memories. How did God bless those memories? How did God use a tree to bring us together, make us stronger, and teach us about God’s own story?

Yeah, it’s pretty cool. We can shape a tree but only God can create it. Is your tree real or is it artificial? Either way, God is blessing it! Take a moment to bless the rest of us by attaching a pic of your tree in the comment section below!

“Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully before the LORD because he is coming!” (Psalm 96:11-13)