bring on the Christmas season, please

Today saw the tractor get its oil changed and other winter maintenance like freshening the mouse repellant sachets. We’ll install the back blade one day soon and be as ready for winter as we can be. As much as these chores are annoying, the bright side is they keep us away from news reports and social media so we’re getting annoyed by something within our control. Getting those chores done leaves us in good shape to enjoy the Christmas season and staying away from most news these days leaves us in an even better mood.

Tomorrow the Better Half and I will visit a couple of local fly-fishing shops to tackle some stocking stuffer shopping. (See what we did there? “tackle” heh, heh) Then we’ll pick up a bunch of cup cakes the Daughter Person wants for her birthday. Should be a fun, extended, weekend. In fact, the whole month is looking decent as long as we stay away from crowds. That’s where my misanthropic leanings come in handy.

a white pine from Christmas past

Photo by J. Harrington

While I was out playing with my “boy toys,” the Better Half was putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree. For a scrawny, underdeveloped white pine it’s looking pretty good. I hope we end up being able to say something similar about the whole season.

The Littlest Christmas Tree

By Amy Petersen

The littlest Christmas tree
lived in a meadow of green
among a family
of tall evergreens.
He learned how to whisper
the evergreen song
with the slightest of wind
that came gently along.

He watched as the birds
made a home out of twigs
and couldn't wait till
he, too, was big.
For all of the trees
offered a home,
the maple, the pine, and the oak,
who's so strong.

"I hate being little,"
the little tree said,
"I can't even turn colors
like the maple turns red.
I can't help the animals
like the mighty old oak.
He shelters them all
in his wide mighty cloak."

The older tree said,
"Why, little tree, you don't know?
The story of a mighty king
from the land with no snow?"
Little tree questioned,
"A land with no snow?"
"Yes!" said old tree,
"A very old story,
from so long ago."

"A star appeared, 
giving great light
over a manger
on long winter's night.
A baby was born, 
a king of all kings,
and with him comes love
over all things."

"He lived in a country
all covered in sand,
and laid down his life
to save all of man."

Little tree thought of the gift
given by him,
then the big tree said with the 
happiest grin,
"We're not just trees,
but a reminder of that day.
There's a much bigger part
of a role that we play!"

"For on Christmas Eve,
my life I'll lay down,
in exchange for a happier,
loving ground.
And as I stand dying,
they'll adorn me in trim.
This all will be done
in memory of him."

"Among a warm fire, 
with family and friends,
in the sweet songs of Christmas,
I'll find my great end.
Then ever so gently,
He'll come down to see
and take me to heaven,
Jesus and me."

"So you see, little tree,
we are not like the oak
who shelters all things
beneath his great cloak.
Nor are we like the maple
in fall,
whose colors leave many
standing in awe."

"The gift that we give
is ourselves, limb for limb,
the greatest of honor,
in memory of him."

The little tree bowed
his head down and cried
and thought of the king 
who willingly died.
For what kind of gift
can anyone give
than to lay down your life
when you wanted to live?

A swelling of pride 
came over the tree.
Can all of this happen
Because of just me?
Can I really bring honor?
By adorning a home?
By reminding mankind
that he's never alone?

With this thought, little tree
began singing with glee.
Happy and proud
to be a true Christmas tree.

You can still hear them singing
even the smallest in height,
singing of Christmas
and that one holy night. 

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