2009 Advent Devotional: December 5

December 5: Malachi .1-4 Bobbie Hall

Preparation for Christmas, Christ’s birth, for thirty-eight years in our home began with the erection of a live Christmas tree, usually hand cut by our family. traveled numerous miles to tree farms to find the most suitable or “perfect” tree.

When our children were teenagers, we extended the welcome always given paternal parents to the one and only paternal aunt who resided in Southern California. were thrilled when she decided to make the trip. been born and raised in Minnesota, she had been a Southern California resident for many years, so snow had not been part of the holidays for her, to say nothing of actually cutting a “perfect” live tree.

We made plans for a trip to a fine restaurant in Stillwater to honor her visit with us. the way we planned to cut a tree. “As luck would have it,” to quote my father-in-law, just as we arrived at the tree farm, the large fluffy snow flakes began to fall upon a small base of snow that had fallen the previous week. continued to fall as we cut and dragged that “perfect” tree to our car and throughout the drive to the restaurant and home.

It was a picture book adventure for our family and our special “auntie”. truly felt this tree and our effort would have been an offering “pleasing to Him”.