Fragile Ornaments

Sitting is not something that I do very much, unless the task at hand requires it. But this morning, I was up early (also unusual) and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I sat in the living room, coffee in hand, and just sat. I reflected on things. I prayed. I tried to figure a few things out. Made a few lists on paper and in my head.

I sat. I slowed down and just was present in the moment.

I sat and just stared at our house and our Christmas tree, which I love. I thought about how it is missing all of our oldest child’s ornaments this year. Each child has gotten a new ornament every Christmas since birth, so with 3 kids and the oldest being 21 yrs old, my tree is full! I gave him all of his ornaments to take to his home this year, but my tree is still very full of ornaments.

Even across the room, I could see each one in the early morning light from the tree. I saw some favorites of mine and I saw ones that the kids had picked out. I also noticed the ones that we look back on and ask, “Why did you pick that one?”

But this morning, my eye was specifically drawn to some fairly non- sentimental ones. The glass balls. I sat and thought, “Wow, with all of the ornaments that we have, we still have a lot of ‘filler’ ornaments!” But God clearly and distinctly spoke and I am writing this through the tears.

Life is fragile.

Those ornaments, those glass balls, are fragile. Just a bump to the tree, something thrown across the room or a wrestling session gone awry, anything could cause those to fall. Spiderman, Big Bird, and most of the various others wouldn’t be hurt at all by a fall to the ground. But those glass balls are fragile. Those ornaments, some from the dollar store, some from a local antique shop, might not survive a fall. They won’t just break, they’ll shatter.

This year, maybe more than ever, we have been given an opportunity to see just how fragile life is. Life is a glass ball hanging precariously from the end of the tree bough. If the wind blows too hard, or if it gets bumped just right….it just might fall.

Through my tears, I looked at those glass ornaments and heard HIS words. “Life is fragile, they are fragile. But I know they are. I made them. I’m protecting them. I put you in this place. I’ve got you. Let ME do MY job.”

After the events of the past week, click here to read, I’ve been reassured even more of HIS protection. But then on the heels of that, I still so quickly forget. It would be a whole lot safer for those fragile ornaments, if I just kept them in the box, maybe even pack them away in the attic. They will be better protected there. Just like my kids, my first thought this week was for everyone to stay home; no one is driving anywhere ever again!

I spend my days, not just working my day job, but trying to do HIS. I run around trying to keep this one happy or make this person like me, keep this one safe, fix this one’s problems….. not my job. Those glass balls – me, my kids, my family, friends, jobs, etc….- they all deserve to be hung on the tree, displayed for all to see, serving their purpose and plan and left in HIS care. All of those fragile ornaments that I want to protect, keep them in a safe little box, wrap them in bubble wrap…..HE’s saying, “Heather, it’s not your job.”

HE cares way more than I do and HE’s reminding me that HE is big enough, HE can handle this, HE can take care of my fragile, breakable ornaments way better than I can. And for that I’m thankful. I’m learning, every day, hang those ornaments up, live life, put your treasures in HIS hands and sit back and let HIM do the rest.

After all, He has great sentimental value in my fragile ornaments. But P.S. God, “Ive got bubble wrap if you need it!”

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. Psalms 17:8