I love the Christmas season. I love the decorations, the lights, gift giving, and spending time with friends and family. And the cookies are an added bonus. I may have a little problem with Christmas trees. Well, perhaps it’s a significant problem. You see, I love Christmas trees of all sizes and shapes. I have more than 65 that I’ve collected over the years. Perhaps I need an intervention.
Some were gifts. Many are dollar store or craft store purchases for a few dollars. But there is just something about them that brings me joy. Figuring out where to display them and how to arrange them. It lends itself to my creative side. We also have two large trees every year. Our living room tree which is freshly cut and adorned with red, silver, and white ornaments. And then there is our Heirloom tree. This artificial tree is in a little area off our kitchen. Of all the trees I have, this one is my favorite.
It’s branches are covered with ornaments that hold special meaning. Each year, we buy our daughter an ornament. And my husband Jason and I buy each other one. Our daughter also gets one from her grandparents. Many of the ornaments came from teachers, friends, coworkers. And my husband has his from when he was a child. All remind us of a special moment in our lives and the special person from whom we received it. Unpacking and hanging these heirloom ornaments is like a stroll through the past. One by one we pull them out and comment, “This was the first ornament we bought when we were married.” Or “This ornament was from our trip to Williamsburg.” Some we laugh at, like Delaney’s Hannah Montana stage which garnered two ornaments. Some make me melancholy. Some made me sad as I miss people who are no longer with us.
But all tell a story. And that story is passed down from Jason and I to Delaney and one day, to her children. And without the sharing of the story, they are just an assortment of ornaments. Without the story, the meaning is lost.
This reminds of Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen, and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.” And Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Most scholars believe Deuteronomy was written by Moses. He is addressing the second generation from the Exodus, those who through obedience to and trust in God will enter the land of Canaan and take possession of it. The first generation disobeyed God and were forbidden to enter the promised land because they broke covenant with God. Deuteronomy is focused on the renewal of that covenant and understanding the call to commit to God wholeheartedly. Moses is sharing the history of God’s relationship with Israel and what is expected of them as they cross the Jordon into the Promised Land.
Moses is sharing the story, so they don’t lose what it means to be relationship with God. Sharing expectations and faith generation by generation. Heirloom faith.
We are not that different from that second generation. We, too, await our crossing into the promised land. Few of us are in a hurry to get there, but it is a destination we desire. God calls us to share our faith and our stories of His faithfulness so that other’s may make that crossing one day.
Just as each ornament tells a story, we all have stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives. Times when the only explanation for a blessing is that it was a gift from God. Times when a healing could only come from a merciful God. Times when sadness was replaced by joy that only God could muster. There are so many examples in my life when God has stepped in and rescued me. Comforted me. Celebrated with me. And oh, how He has blessed me. I want to pass along those stories to others. I want to lean into them when I face challenges or uncertainty. Each moment is a reminder that I serve a God who is head over heels in love with me. A God who wants nothing more than His very best for me. A God that fights fiercely for me. A God who never gives up on me.
That is a legacy of faith I want to pass on to my daughter, my family, my friends, and the people God brings into my life. I want them to see and hear my story and know that it can be their story too. Heirlooms are precious. They are to be treasured. Let us treasure and share our faith in the same way we do those keepsakes that tell our history. For the greatest heirloom any of us has received is the gift of Jesus.
How can you share your Heirloom faith this week?
AMEN 🙏❤️