Each ornament on my Christmas tree has a story. Starting at the bottom, there’s the beautiful, hooked poinsettia tree skirt my sister Helen made years ago.
When she gave it to me, she told me it wasn’t quite finished but I’ve looked at it for years and can’t see where anything else needs to be done.
On the tree skirt sits a tiny, stuffed bear. The woman who taught me to tat also made teddy bears, large and small. This is one of the smallest ones who has a toy train beside him.
My mother’s crocheted snowflakes and bells, homemade ornaments Matt made in kindergarten or before, decorations Sara and Nathan made, all find a home on a branch of the tree. 
The Santa with the long, white beard is actually half of a Catalpa tree seed pod. That tree stood beside the cellar at Mom and Dad’s house in Tahlequah until a strong wind blew it over, roots and all, right onto the cellar. However, I saved a couple of seed pods and turned them into Santas.
The fragile, glass Coke ornament is carefully tucked into its box each year and the penguin and Santa eggs are wrapped in paper before they are put away, to be taken out next year.
And so it goes, to the topmost branch where a wallpaper angel watches over all. My sister-in-law Carlene made the angel a long time ago. The top of the tree points upward to God and His Son whose birth we celebrate. The sheltering branches with their many decorations represent His handiwork, His children who find security and love under His care.
Definitely, the tree is decorated with memories of people, of times, of other Christmases, all brought together in the present Yule season. Love and friendship are tucked within the branches and they, like the tree, are forever green, fresh, and growing. Memories of the past, the happy bustle of the present, and hope for the future all come together during this Christmas season. The tree is a celebration of the greatest Life ever lived who gives life to us lesser creatures. That’s why, even without lights, that tree would glow!
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