Artificial vs. Real


I Timothy 1:15-17 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

My grandma Frey had an artificial Christmas tree, ya know the silver metallic ones. With about 4 and 1/2 rows of foil branches. Always in it’s prominent place on a card table in the front room, smack centered in the middle of the picture window. Even though that tree was the epitome of fake...my grandma was the real deal. (A future memoir)

My Christmas tree is REAL. It has to be because this morning when dawn was slowly breaking the sight of it made me cry. The light of a new day is always special, but when it’s the first day the tree is lit...in my book, that is a perfectly good excuse for a warm-fuzzy-melt down in my head and heart. I’m sure I wasn’t crying because of how many strands of lights I had strung yesterday (15-100 light sets) or how well I had placed all the ornaments (sorry girls...but there was no way I was waiting until the 18th). Believe it or not, I don’t even feel as if my tears were for the memories and traditions of Christmases gone by. No, pretty sure my emotional breakdown this morning was that I am such a sorry excuse for a Christ follower. I want to be authentic. And I quote Nic’s sound effects and so technically from the movie I Am Sam, “I try and I try hard. You don’t know. Yeah, you just DON'T KNOW what it’s like when you try and you try and you try and you TRY and you don’t ever get there! But then we’re not really going to “get there” are we? We’re human. We are the substitute for the real thing. An ambassador so to speak. People should see Jesus as a result of me. Everything I do and say should reflect his love. As the score of my Christmas Past’s grows ever more uneven I want to become increasingly enthusiastic to shine and reflect His love.

Posted: Sun - November 20, 2005 at 09:43 AM          

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