Thursday, December 3, 2009

It wasn't our tree

Anticipating the tree decorating. It's almost December. We have a date for our family night to hang ornaments, deck the halls. And then this happened......






Sunday night ended at a couple's house who invited kids over to help them decorate the tree. This grandma and grandpa opened their home and let others decorate the largest decoration of the season. She said that it "helped her out," but I know she could've done this. Yet, she opened her life, her tradition up for other kids to share. The children giggled, carefully placed ornaments, delighted in little treasures crafted last year proudly placing them on chosen branch. They were so excited. I was blessed.




My boys don't have grandparents near and the generational lifestyle we so desire is difficult to live, especially at the holidays. This couple has watched our boys grow and at a distance grew to love them as their own. I didn't ask them to do this. They just did. I am blessed.

Wondering if this event was as meaningful to them as it was to me, conversation instantly began as we took winding road home. "It felt like what going to grandma's should feel like." "I love decorating such a huge tree!" "I'm so glad we got to do this again this year." "That was really fun."

The evening wasn't anything particularly deep. No story. No analysis of the season. No defining what should occur at Christmas. There was freedom. Freedom to create. To laugh. Explore. Appreciate. Be wow-ed. =) And the deep came. The conversation between children from 2 to 17 years flowed. The story poured out. The holiday memories. These children know each other. They've been through years of just life, together. This was one of the happy moments smoothing over the troubling waters and rough edges. Smoothing. Coming together. Returning to fellowship. Isn't that part of Christmas, too? The most important part? The returning to fellowship and the tree that made the way........

Yes. And.....it wasn't our tree.......

I am blessed. The season of Thanksgiving never ends.

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