A note from Kelly King: Needing a little encouragement this holiday season? Read Kasey Ewing’s article today and see if you relate. I know I can. And from all of the Lifeway Women trainers, have a Merry Christmas!
The decor for our tree is no longer in style, and I was not looking forward to our family’s planned night of bringing out the Christmas decorations.
This has been a difficult year, and the thought of having a tree with glittery ornaments when the “farm house” style is the new look was disappointing. I begrudgingly pulled out the decorations for our family. Once the tree was up, I realized that no matter how I styled the tree, it was bent, and I couldn’t add enough glitzy ornaments or lights to hide the fact that my tree wasn’t straight.
My tree—the one I had carefully wrapped in plastic wrap to preserve for this year—was crooked. I had to fight to be nice to my oldest son because my head was swirling with all the reasons I didn’t like my tree. My thoughts led to accusations of why I didn’t have a different tree, and discontentment challenged my mind. In seconds, I blamed and dredged up old hurts and irritations about more than just my out-of-style Christmas tree.
I allowed one crooked tree to change my whole view of life, and I wallowed in self-pity.
As I focused on faults and hurts, I was reminded that Jesus came for the crooked tree that is my life. No matter how much glitter I add, I am still broken and in need of my Savior who hung on a tree for me.
Now, my gnarled tree reminds me of Jesus and His broken body that died for me.
This season, when reality doesn’t meet our expectations and when we bump up against each other’s brokenness, I pray that we see it as an opportunity to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
Let’s take the crooked moments and celebrate that Jesus made our way straight.
Kasey Ewing is the Family Ministry Director at New Vision Church in Murfreesboro, TN. She is married to Brad who is the Buchanan Campus Pastor at New Vision and has three boys—Drew, Jake (in heaven), and Jackson.