This past weekend we made our annual trek to the Christmas tree farm. My husband is a pro at determining whether the tree is a suitable height to fit beneath our 10′ ceilings. This is important because trees always look a lot smaller in the field… until you get them home.
Once we heaved this one through the front door and it relaxed in its new environment, its boughs rather reminded me of Father Christmas’ midsection. I’m sitting beside the fully-decorated tree as I write. Its girth is like an extroverted Enneagram Type Three in my space, its expansive boughs making quite a statement.
But it’s a welcome guest, and I don’t mind that quite a lot of masterful furniture-moving went into its arrival. My husband and friend may beg to differ since it took several maneuvers before we settled on an arrangement I could live with. I’m happy to report that no one got hurt during the tree’s installment. Never mind that it dominates the space—it’s delightful!
It stands so proud and bold in its new environment and appears unapologetic about taking up considerable space in my living room. I wonder, can we learn a few things from this tree?
What would it be like if we stopped apologizing for taking up space in this world? If we boldly and unapologetically stood proud in a room unafraid to be who we are? What would it look like to face a new environment or situation with the same ease as if in the spacious field in which we grew?
When displaced and out of our comfort zone, can we remain gracious, self-assured in our roots and grounding, reaching out of our uniqueness? No matter in whose company we find ourselves, what would it look like to consistently stay true to ourselves and not make excuses or make ourselves small?
I have found I stand sturdier when secure in my Saviour. I unashamedly embrace who I am when I am grounded in Jesus. I gain greater poise in various circumstances when rooted in Christ. I’m at ease and in greater peace the closer I remain to the Peace-Giver.
In the spaciousness of Jesus’ love, I cease apologizing for the space I occupy. I unapologetically live out of the uniqueness and fullness of who I was made to be. When I embrace Jesus—the One who knows me better than I know myself—I can fully embrace not only the real me but others in all their fullness.
As we usher in the Christmas season, may we celebrate Jesus, thankful that we are secure now and forever because of his sacrifice. We celebrate that he came to find us when we were lost. We celebrate that because he wasn’t ashamed of the cross, we were set free of sin and shame and released to be who he intended us to be.
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7
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- What gives you your sense of security?
- This Christmas, place your trust in the One who ever-secure—Jesus, Saviour, Lord.
Now available ISBN: 978-1-4866-1537-7 Print Availability: Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Word Alive Press, and wherever fine Christian books are sold. eBook Availability: Amazon’s Kindle Store, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, and in Adobe PDF format for additional vendors.Great gift-giving ideas!
Print Availability: Amazon, Chapters/Indigo, Word Alive Press Bookstore, and wherever fine Christian books are sold. eBook Availability: Amazon’s Kindle Store, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd
Melanie Stevenson 