I remember taking down the tree on New Year’s Day each year. It became tradition I would suppose for many families. And gosh, darn, I will definitely miss the lights and decorations that had popped up in so many yards even before Thanksgiving. The Myrtle Creek – Tri City area is always so dark. It is nice to have the Christmas lights to remove some of the darkness.
On New Year’s Day this year I read a
couple of thoughts which helped ease the pain of this tradition that I have
come to hate. David Butler has a
facebook page in which he shares uplifting thoughts. On New Year’s Day he compared taking down the
tree to the first Christmas – perhaps a week after the fact – when Joseph and
Mary had to leave the manger and move on.
They could not stay where they were nor could they take the manger with
them. And why would they want to? It wasn’t really a bed – a crib fit for a
king. And yet that is what it
became. The manger is a symbol. The tree is a symbol. Decorations.
They all have symbolic meaning.
And just because they are removed visually does not mean we can’t still continue to hold
them in our hearts.
Meanwhile Corey has started a new
blog. Unlike his first blog in which he
wished to remain unknown he uses his actual first name. His goal is to provide uplifting
messages. I am certain he will be
successful at it. He mostly always lifts
me up.
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlepower |
He and Joh happened to be married on
New Year’s Day. In his post he comments on spending their anniversary together
and inviting another to attend a concert with them. In his post he makes the comment that some
think it is odd that they would invite another to celebrate their anniversary. His
response “ . . . seeing his eyes light up and seeing his spirit lifted
is very joyous to us, and shouldn't that be what life is about--lifting others
and making them feel good?”
I
admire my brother and so many others as David Butler and Emily Freeman for
sharing their light. Thus even in darkness we can carry a light in our
hearts. May I keep that in mind with
every new year I start by taking down the tree.
