No, it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet and yes, I am one of those Christmas obsessed lunatics who already has up a tree. Well, maybe a tree or two. I made my husband climb those stairs to the attic and retrieve all those decorations Sunday afternoon. I got to decorating. After forty-one Christmases together I (not we) have amassed a treasure trove of red and green, silver and gold, blue and purple, sparkly, shiny stuff. I cannot bear to throw out the old when I get new. I simply collect more choices, but usually, don’t choose.
 

 

This year I wasn’t feeling very well as I put up the trees, hung the ornaments and arranged other decorations on tabletops and shelves. The last couple of days I have noticed little things I missed. Some red ornaments on the blue tree, some gold in with the silver. Some angels with the Santas. And the main problem in one of my nativity scenes - Mary is missing! As I frantically looked through boxes and wrappings for Mary, I knocked Joseph on the floor. He lost his head.
 
As I picked up Josephs head to consider the probability that super glue could put him back together again, I knocked off a kissing angel who is also now headless. Poor thing! I know I had the angel since 1983 or so. I was shaken. I was so tired and upset by then, that I simply put all the pieces in a pile and mentally marked it “Possible Repairs.”
The next morning, as I rushed to work my purse, caught another Christmas pretty. Tinkerbell encased in a water globe marked “2005” crashed to the floor. My heart sank. My friend from Tennessee had given me this special gift when she came back home for a visit. I cried as I swept the glass slithers into the dustpan.
 
I dried my tears, beat myself up for breaking these little treasures and went out the door. I continued to think of the catastrophe as I drove to work. Even though the broken things were not only Christmassy like my Tinkerbell globe but actually representative of some very holy things, they are now gone. I thought of how temporary all the little trinkets and treasure I have really or. Even our earthly treasures that represent holy things such as nativity scenes, angels and crosses are not THE HOLY THING who was born to a virgin over 200o years ago.
Thank God Mary was not missing but right where she needed to be when the angel spoke to her.
 
Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
 

 

Thank God Joseph kept his head when he found out the girl, he was engaged to, was pregnant and he knew he wasn’t the father.
 
Matthew 1:20 - But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
 
Thank God the angel’s message of no fear and great joy was delivered to the shepherds and to all of us, as God prepared to kiss mankind with His mercy.
 
Luke 2:10 - And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 
Trinkets and treasures and everything in this life will one day be gone. But THE HOLY Thing will remain. Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and accept His saving grace will be with Him one day where there will be no tears, no pain, and no brokenness