My Favorite Holiday Tree

For those who follow An Authentic Life regularly, it should be apparent that I love home decor and decorating. It’s the silly, little things, but often after I rearrange something, I’ll walk by and admire the newly “staged” area, feeling proud, and loving the aesthetic pleasure it brings.

{Sexy Hubby just rolls his eyes, then asks, “How much money did we spend on that?”}

Over the Christmas Holiday, I heard such a lovely story to match an equally lovely, yet humble Holiday Tree, that I snapped a jillion photos of it, and thought, THIS is my next holiday tree – or perhaps my next everyday tree!?!

This tree that would even rival Charlie Brown’s on its best and most shining day.

From a Christmas past:

There once was a young boy who’s life began so harshly, it’s amazing he was able to ever trust another human being again. After a life that spun round and round, this young boy was raised by his grandparents, who did their level best on very limited finances.

Making ends meet was an everyday challenge, not to mention the extra pinch that was felt during the Christmas season. “Extra’s” just weren’t in the budget.

Rather than forego the holiday tradition of a Christmas tree altogether, Grandpa would gather branches, arrange them in a pot, then Grandma and the young boy would glue cotton balls onto the branches in an effort to replicate snow, and would grace the branches with whatever household items they could muster.  

Now, more than 30 years later, a tree reminiscent of his childhood memories graces a corner of that young-boy-now-grown-man’s living room with a quiet style, simple elegance and grace like no other object d’ art I’ve ever seen.

 

Gazing upon this tree made me realize how fortunate we have always been. Every holiday of my childhood was marked with a live and hearty Christmas tree. I’ve never known anything less.

Yet this meek little tree, with its sweet story, and brightly lit branches reminds all those who view it what it means to be thankful and to appreciate beauty, even in its most modest form.