One of my
favorite Christmas traditions is our Christmas tree. While I’m not a huge fan of hauling boxes out
of storage and setting it up, I do enjoy the beauty and the memories our tree
evokes. Most of the ornaments on our
tree are connected to places and people who hold a special place in our hearts. Year after year, those ornaments take us back
to fond memories of past.
This year,
though, our tree has a slightly different look to it. One might say it has a somewhat more
“creative” display than in years past. Where,
typically, we distribute the ornaments to produce a full and balanced display,
this year’s tree includes an eclectic grouping of ornaments concentrated in a
space of about 6 inches. It also happens
that this collection is right at 3-year-old eye level. You see, this year, for the very first time,
our grandson had his heart set on being part of decorating our tree, and, of
course, we welcomed his help.

Our
grandson’s part in decorating the tree reminds me that God still has more
ahead. The innocence and promise of his
young life bear witness to the fact that God continues to move and to work,
most often in ways that are outside the grasp of my limited understanding. While much of my Christmas focuses on
remembering – remembering God’s gift in that miracle birth, remembering my own
celebrations of that event over the years – I need never to let remembering keep me from anticipating God’s future work.
As I
remember the past, I can also “remember” the future – its promise and,
ultimately, its path. Though I can’t see
it nearly so well as I can remember selected parts of the past, the future is
every bit as real. I don’t know the
details, and I can’t control it nearly so much as I like to think I can, but
the future is just as much God’s as is the past. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that, “Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
He doesn’t change, regardless of our circumstances. Even if some of those things that concern us
most actually come to pass, God’s love, power, and purpose remain unchanged.

If ever I’m tempted to doubt that, all I have to do is look at our tree.