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O Crunchy Tree, O Crunchy Tree

O Crunchy Tree, O Crunchy Tree

Last updated on: December 14, 2016 at 9:03 pm by Brenda Renee Coats

O Crunchy Tree, O Crunchy Tree 2016-12-14T21:03:00-07:00 Brenda Renee Coats

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The 2015 Tree

December 1st, we picked up a Christmas tree from Lowe’s. It was the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had, with last year’s coming in as a close second. It stood a little over six feet tall, perfectly formed, with no bare or uneven spots. Even the gal behind us at the checkout station expressed her pleasure with it.

“That is a gorgeous tree. Absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations!”

I thanked her and felt like saying “There are more just like it back there!” But I held my tongue, wondering why she had chosen a Charlie Brown tree.

She knows what she’s doing, Brenda …

Well we brought the lush, beautiful tree home. Shaun perched it just right in a tree base, watered it, and went to work. I couldn’t wait to string popcorn and cranberries. But second thoughts came.

Natural, homemade garlands are pretty but also time consuming, and I’d been reading about Mary and Martha. I’ve always seen a little of myself in both women, and so I thought through the Scripture, considered my Christmas to-do list, and gave myself permission to string and hang the garland. I was pretty sure I could do it without becoming a crabby patty about getting everything else done.

But first, I decided to make a quick, 4 1/2 minute video to put on the blog. Because of my reading on Mary and Martha, I’d thought through the frustrating issues that often stem from hospitality during the holidays and I wanted to share a few ways ladies could keep from being cra-cra throughout the Christmas season.

So! Made the video, and talked about the problem of perfectionism, not giving into it, and keeping our eyes on Christ. Problem was, I was feeling rather challenged at my own message because as I went to prepare the popcorn for the garland, I found it was buttered and … who wants yellow, greasy popcorn all over their tree?

Perfectionism? What perfectionism?

I scolded myself a bit.

Just use buttered. Nobody’s going to notice.

So I popped the popcorn in the microwave … and burned it.

Nice, Brenda. After 27 years of marriage, you can’t successfully pop popcorn.

I talked about that little popcorn mishap in the video. Then my dog started yipping loudly while the tape rolled, making it hard for me to be serious and concentrate on my message. Turned out my video wouldn’t be so perfect either. And then when I tried to upload the video to YouTube, making it easier to embed on the blog, it wouldn’t load.

And then? My tree died. I worked a total of five hours on the homemade garland, another hour and a half on the remaining decor, and three days later, Tada! My very own Charlie Brown tree, only taller.

I’ve seen this before. It’s called preach a message, live a message. God’s way of making sure I don’t just talk Christ. I live Christ.

Fast forward to today. I’m sitting here with a nasty of all nasties chest and head cold, staring through constantly watering eyes at my dead Christmas tree. The bottom third is sagging. The garland and all the ornaments droop like Eeyore ears. There’s no room for gifts because the sad branches drag on the floor. When you touch it, it crunches. It’s a fire hazard, really.

Why did it die? Shaun used a different base than he did last year, and it turns out it can’t hold enough water to feed it adequately. We thought we’d have to water it every four days or so, when in reality, it needs watered once a day. But too late. You cannot revive a dead tree that you were trying to trick into thinking it wasn’t dead in the first place.

Why isn’t so important. What is important is that I have a tree in the throes of rigor mortis and I am hosting Christmas this year. Back when I was a newlywed, I would’ve taken down all the ornaments, stripped it of it’s garland and lights and started fresh.

We can’t host Christmas without a (perfect!) tree!!

Maybe these things don’t matter as much as you age. Maybe I’m just ill and can’t muster up any strength to start fresh. But as my tree pathetically leans toward me, I want to lean toward focusing on the Reason for the Season. Not freaking about domestic details. The hardness of life and the truth of God’s Word have a way of convincing you to take His yoke. The way that makes the hard easy, the burden light.

Practically, what does that mean for my tree? For me?

Not sure. It may mean we take the dead tree down and settle with the tiny faux tree on the top of the library bookcase. It may mean we celebrate around a crunchy Christmas tree. It may mean our “tree” will be constructed out of gifts (hello, Pinterest?), and we will dwindle the “tree” down to nothing as we open gifts. That sounds fun. What it doesn’t mean is fretting about domestic details until I’m frazzled with a cranky countenance.

Ultimately, I hope it means by God’s grace, I’ll be a Mary, and choose the one thing that is needed, the good portion, which will not be taken away (Luke 10:42). That is, Jesus.

How ’bout you? Are you having an easy Christmas season where everything is falling into place as it should? Or are you frantic and stressed with a countenance that reflects that stress?

It’s possible to have a discordant disposition no matter what our circumstances. Or a Christ-like countenance no matter what our circumstance. My prayer is that we fall into the latter category, knowing full well that to “fall” there is not a fall at all, but a life-long journey of ups and downs. Set backs and victories. And much discipline and intentional determination to do the next thing.

It’s direction. Not perfection.

As for Christmas Day, the tree, the meal, the gift wrap, and every little preparatory thing that goes into celebrating Jesus’ birthday … work hard, then relax.

Que Sera Sera.

Whatever will be, will be.

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