My Angel Wing Tree

You see them everywhere, the Angel Tree.

Angel Tree was created by The Salvation Army in 1979 by Majors Charles and Shirley White when they worked with a Lynchburg, Virginia shopping mall to provide clothing and toys for children at Christmas time.
The program got its name because the Whites’ identified the wishes of local children by writing their gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards that featured pictures of angels. They placed the cards on a Christmas tree at the mall to allow shoppers to select children to help. Thanks to the Whites, who were assigned by The Army to the Lynchburg area at the time, more than 700 children had a brighter Christmas that first year.

The Salvation Army

Long ago, while I was homeschooling my niece, the children were playing a game. My niece accidentally fell on her side while running. She did the craziest thing, and started crying and laughing all at the same time. I was thinking of this event because this Christmas, I have those same emotions. I do not want to air out our families situations, but any holiday feels odd because someone I love will be missed. Situations and the passing of loved ones seems so unfair. I want to cry and shut down. I want to get in my bed and stay there, but I can’t.

Here at TCB, I have children that are full of joy. They only know to play and to laugh. It’s hard to laugh while in pain; It was so for my niece. I am having that same experience now. So, three things came to my mind: seeing the Angel Tree, my daughter’s tree theme this year (UNC Tarheels), and the prayer room at church. This year my theme tree will be an Angel Wing Tree. Not only will I hang wings of loved ones gone home, but I will hang prayer hands for loved ones in situations. There are a lot of people dealing with the same, but it seems even heavier at Christmas.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastic 3:1-8

This year, this Christmas, and this time, I want to display a very special tree, especially for the children that have gone home, are not with family because of situations, and those on the community Angel Tree. Our world is forever changing and the only way to accept things as they come is to live it with Jesus. In the midst of crying and laughing, I recite the Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr

I lean on the Word of God…

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16-17

This Christmas, and everyday, I will pray for you and yours.

…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

Ephesians 6:18

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!