A Christmas Memory Tree

For God so loved the world that he gave us His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! John 3:16

Our Christmas tree lights were store- bought, but from the angel on the top to the ornaments on every branch, the rest were gifts. Some were more impressive than others, but each one held its own special memory. My sister’s hand painted sand dollars reminded me that though she lived a thousand miles away, she thought of us on her morning walks on the beach. Right next to it hung a bell woven of yarn made by our neighbors from Nepal, who had come to our country as refugees and became our friends. Just below that, is another bell of Irish soapstone that rings with my sister-in-law’s laughter, though today her rejoicing is before the throne of Jesus. Then there is the angel-winged Teddy bear from nursing home residents, a sign that our hearts are linked, though our worlds are quite different. Then, the rest of our tree is filled with soldiers, rocking horses, and reindeer, hand-made by my wife’s mother that she had sent as gifts, year after year.

Though all these decorations are special, the best ornament of all is told about in today’s verse and comes from God who has given us his only Son to hang on a very different tree than ours. On His tree, He took on the sin and shame of all the world as His blood flowed down its cold and leafless branches. His Cross reminds us that on the first Christmas night when God sent angels to wake up sleepy shepherds, He also wanted to wake up our hearts. And from the night when Jesus was born in the stable, till the night at the Last Supper when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” God has remembered us. Today He gives us the Cross as His memory tree, so that when we look to it with eyes of faith we will see the best gift of Christmas, just waiting to be opened!

Peter Caligiuri has been writing poetry since he was a teenager. Some of his short poems and devotionals have appeared in various periodicals such as Secret Place, Breakthrough Intercessor and The Upper Room. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/English from Western Connecticut State College as well as having attended Elim Bible College. You can read more from Peter at Praise2Worship.

Photo provided by Peter Caligiuri