Heather - posted on 11/12/2010 ( 6 moms have responded )
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So I know that some of us have discussed this before, but I am finally doing it this year. We will not have a Christmas tree. My husband and the boys are going to build a manger to lay our gifts around. My reasoning?
When we talked about this before, we discussed the verses in Jeremiah (10:3-4) that helped me make my decision. Some people say those verses are irrelevant and out of context, but I disagree. I think it is extremely relevant. I do not like the kids kneeling around a tree Christmas morning, and the song "O Christmas Tree" makes this even worse. The Christmas tree is honestly an idol at Christmas (maybe not for everyone, but I know it is for a lot of people, including our family). And also I love the thought of us laying our gifts at Christ's feet. I think it will help us to keep our focus on Jesus, the reason we are giving gifts, and hopefully our focus will be more on Him than on the presents themselves. I have also thought about doing a Jesse tree. I think that would be neat... but haven't decided for sure on that...I know people who decorate their tree only with ornaments about Christ. Each ornament has a story, or plays a part in the Christmas story (a shepherds staff, gold, myrrh...) I think that's cool, and a great way to make sure the focus stays on Christ, but I still can't get past the songs praising the Christmas tree.
So that's what we are doing this year and why. How are you all handling it this year?
(I will obviously not judge you either way, Romans 14. This is the first year we aren't having one, and 1 Corinthians 10:23)
...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
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