CHRISTMAS - trimmings

Submitted by Dot Carswell on Fri, 09/12/2022 - 12:41

Growing up as a daughter of the head gardener of a large private estate in the West country, one of my tasks at Christmastime was making wreaths - some for graves but mostly for doors. Since dad’s wages were not sufficient to feed the family, he would supplement his income by selling flowers, decorating celebration cakes as well as wedding bouquet and wreath making.

Childhood memories have been flooding back whilst I have been unpacking this year’s Christmas decorations. Ruefully, I remember gathering moss, berries and greenery in the cold days of winter out along the tall hedges and winding lanes. But the painful task of wiring endless stems of prickly holly was the worst part of the job. My fingers and hands would be full of puncture holes and scratches. Nevertheless, I enjoyed doing it with dad. I hoped the customers would be delighted with our work and pay well.

Adorning our houses inside and out at this time of year is just one of our great traditions at Christmastime; It being part of the build-up of excitement and general expectation of joy and happiness and celebration - whatever the depth of one’s faith in Christ.

But sadly, as the years go by, the reason for the season (the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ) , is continually being pushed out by the world.

We would all do well this Christmas to not only adorn our houses but also adore the One who left the splendour of Heaven to be the Saviour of the world.

Joy to the world; the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world; the Saviour reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace;

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love.