He sat, soaking in Christmas.  Lingering by my sister’s glistening Christmas tree, my son longingly lay at the foot of the tree, watching and expecting. The wrapped presents eagerly waited to be open, each shouting, “pick me.” The lights and ornaments danced and sparkled singing and speaking their own Christmas joy. The perfume of the pine filled the air, enticing each to come near the tree. No wonder he would sit and wait on the hard floor, mesmerized by the tree.

Come to the Tree

Together they sang in harmony, “Come to the tree. Sing for joy! Linger and wait.”
The angels proclaimed,

“There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

The Shepherds exclaimed,

“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.(Luke 2:15)

Mary thought and wondered.

“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”  (Luke 2:15)

Mesmerized

“What mesmerizes me most about the Christmas story,” I ask? What do I want to ponder this year?

Many things tempt to side track me: hot issues and trends in the media, last minute shopping, fun and full family times…. I do want to be mesmerized, and not just let it slip by. I want to sing the song of the tree.

The Song of the Tree
Everything waiting
Silence halts
God becoming man
Now God with us
The Son giving life
And broken on the tree
The tree beckoning and calling
The broken, like me
Giving life
Its Christ in me.
Together in harmony,
the song of the tree