I am sure some of you are wondering about the progress on the house. We have a "take 2", lets try again, inspection of the wiring tomorrow. Please say a prayer for us so that we can get a move on with the build and be done with the rough end! The closer we get to Christmas, the closer we get to our deadline. Josh continues to look for work while keeping on top with the build.
Josh and I were out and about a couple of weeks ago and saw another Christmas Tree upside down and looked at each other with frowns and said, " Why do people mess with Christmas Trees and turn them upside down since it looks so silly!" Come to find out during the Dark Ages, the first fir trees which were brought into homes were hung upside down from the ceilings (just like a bouquet of drying flowers). Throughout Europe, cultures thought the trees were a symbol of life & good fortune. The Vikings were very superstitious and during the long depressing and cold winters they marveled at the evergreens that never died during the cold season and thought the trees were magical. They brought the trees into their homes as a lucky charm (or idol) thinking the trees would give them magical strength to survive through the harshest parts of winter. As Vikings were converted to Christianity, the tree's symbol changed. Evergreen trees were hung from ceilings as a symbol of Christianity and the Tree of Life. The triangular shape of the tree represented the Holy Trinity and the tree's endurance through the cold months reminded them to have faith during tough times. The new symbol began to sweep through France & Germany. It wasn't until the late 1500s that fir trees were taken down from the ceilings and stood upright on the floor. Then,
"Trees were not yet generally associated with Christmas, however, but were considered throwbacks to pagan rituals. It would take one of history's most famous Christian leaders to change that perception. …Martin Luther was walking home on a dark December evening when he was struck by the beauty of the starlight coming through the branches of the many fir trees in the woods around his home. The German Protestant Reformer was so captivated by the way the filtered light appeared that he felt moved to duplicate this effect on the tree he had placed in his home. He tied a candleholder onto on of the evergreen's branches, put a candle in the wooden holder, and lit it…He liked the effect and attached several more candles in the same way…Luther taught his friends and family that the tree represented the everlasting love of God. He pointed out that the evergreen's color did not fade, just as the Lord's love would not fade, no matter what circumstance or trial. The candlelight represented the hope that Christ brought to the world through his birth & resurrection. Thus, to those who knew Luther, the tree evolved into a symbol not just of Christmas but of Christian faith in general." - .Ace Collins
I finished decorating my Christmas Tree. I love to sit on the couch and gaze at the lights sparkling and the colors that dance off the ornaments. One of my favorite traditions, every Christmas, is to curl up with a blanket and just relax in the quiet of the night marveling in the beauty and taking that time to remember the Christmas story. Despite the fact that scholars don't really know what month of the year Christ was born, He was born! I also take that moment to thank Jesus for all He did to save me from my sin and all that he is doing now. Without Him, I am nothing! I hope this season brings you and your family together to remember too!
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