"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24
Last week, I was greeted by a dear friend who started the conversation with the opening, "So when something happens, I always try to figure out what God is trying to teach me, and here's what happened to me this past weekend." She then pulled up a photo on her phone that portrayed her painful experience. The photo revealed her Christmas tree laying horizontally on the floor with hundreds of shattered pieces of beautiful glass scattered around the fallen tree.
The pain from this experience was still so raw that tears immediately returned as she started to explain what had happened:
It was the first time that the family selected to purchase a real evergreen Christmas tree. As they mounted the tree in the stand, they noticed it was a little wobbly, but felt like it wasn't that concerning. Her husband left for a business trip, and my friend was excited to decorate this new and beautiful tree. Taking her time to strategically place each treasured family heirloom, she found herself enjoying this journey down memory lane as she would mentally recall the selection process for a variety of their precious ornament collection. When the decorating was near completion, she placed the final touch of the star on top of the tree. However, when she reached behind the tree to plug in the lights, the tree abruptly came crashing down, smashing many of the treasured ornaments in the process. Stunned and devastated, she stood in shock and surveyed the destruction of rubble that had accumulated on the living room floor. During her brief surveillance, she noticed one ornament that was still intact, and that was their beautiful cross ornament!
Having a few days to process and reflect, she then shared with me a few take-always God had given to her from this experience. First, the tree fell because the foundation was not secure. If the tree had been firmly mounted in the tree stand, it would have been able to withstand the weight and stress being added to its branches. In the same sense, we need to build our lives on the firm and solid foundation of Jesus so that when the weight and tension of daily life starts to pile up on us, we can also withstand the additional stress.
Second, how telling that of all the ornaments that fell, it was the cross that remained intact! In the middle of all of the pain and destruction, the cross was a reminder that Jesus is always with us, no matter what the situation may be.
She concluded the story by telling me that she went out and bought a new and firmer tree stand and with the help of a few girlfriends, remounted and decorated the tree. Now as she looks at her tree, she is reminded of the One and True Foundation that holds her and keeps her steady each and every day.
This Advent season, may you find great peace knowing that your faith in Jesus is the ultimate foundation to build your life upon.
In His Love,
Mrs. Palka