Light String

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

We are among the sacrilegious people who have an artificial Christmas tree. Believe me, it is only out of necessity. I think a real tree is better, but I am very allergic to evergreens. Prior to kids, I suffered through the season, but when they also got sick, we succumbed to a fake tree. It is nice to be able to have it up for over a month and not worry about falling needles and dry branches. For many years, we had a huge twelve foot tree that was so big around that we had to move furniture to make room for it. I wrestled that tree around many times on my own. Because I tend to get picky about decorating, my family usually flees the house to avoid getting stuck helping me. First, I assembled the tree matching the colored tips of the branches to the same colored stickers on the pole. Then, I fluffed up the branches that storage flattened before wrapping it in garland and stringing the lights. It took me hours to do. Last year, I had enough of that huge tree. When I found some “skinny” trees on sale for $15.00 each, I snagged up two. I had to promise husband I would give the giant tree away, but I packed it up at the end of the season and snuck it back into the attic. All year, I envisioned how nice they would look flanking each side of the mantel, but there was a possibility that they might not suit and I would want my big tree back. I was delighted upon opening up the boxes this year to find how easy the new trees were to assemble. They unfolded like an umbrella and the lights were already on each branch. In minutes, the trees were in place and in less time that it used to take to string the lights, they were fluffed and ready for decorating. One tree is now covered in animals, bears, horses, penguins, mice and moose along with an assortment of other species. The second tree has angels, Santas and manager scenes. The trees look great, but there is one problem. My ornaments that need to be plugged into the light string to play music or move, will not work on the new trees. The light bulbs do not come out so I can insert the ornaments into the power source. I am very disappointed and am going to have to consider another way to get power to those ornaments. It made me think about how we all look for happiness and pleasure in a variety of places that don’t satisfy. We think that stuff or people, a job or hobby, will give us the fulfillment we need in life. When in actuality, there is only One true source of love and power and that is God. What are you trying to plug your life into? Look to the Giver of Life and see how satisfying He can be.