It was my favorite Christmas decoration.
But we don’t use it anymore.
It decayed and fell apart, disintegrated, at least the one main part.
The other part hangs high and permanent now on the weathered barn.
Husband pours spotlight on it in this season, but not everyone who sees it connects it mentally with Christmas. It speaks more, they’d say, of Good Friday, of Easter.
But thinking that far ahead is okay, methinks, and maybe more than okay. Historically, Christmas wasn’t the big deal it is now (I’ve just learned), but more a first step annually leading toward acknowledgement of the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, come spring.
The real big deal, the main show, the stellar season of the year came at “Eastertide,” holding high our hope, our future, our life eternal. Christmas at most celebrated the miraculous incarnation that brought the needed Lord and Savior down into our ruin-wracked world — that He might later offer the saving sacrifice, of Himself.
Jesus’ death and resurrection could not have happened had He never been born in the flesh. Yet His birth alone, without the dying and rising and ascending would still leave us utterly hopeless.
So first in focus this Advent season, let it be for me the cross.
And tomorrow I’ll tell the other half of my favorite decoration we no longer use, and all the astounding meaning wrapped up in this humble thing.
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It is interesting to see what we’ve done to the holiday throughout the generations. It’s so commercialized and focused on everything but Christ. I love your heart here, thanks for pointing me to the truth and to our Savior.
I was unaware of this historical difference in the way we celebrate Christmas today. But beginning our advent season with the reminder of the “old rugged cross” is the best place to start. Thanks so much for this inspiring post, Sylvia!
Your pictures beautiful point to the true meaning of our lives. I love the way you have stated it here. The cross really is the crux of the matter.
It *is* interesting, Christina. And I see from your posts that we are one the same page with where we want our Christmastimes to go from here on. So glad you stopped by!
I keep learning new info about the changes over the centuries, too, Beth. And I am liking this starting focus on the coming cross. It seems to deepen the meaning in everything.
Hi Tereasa,
So good “seeing” you here! Yes, the cross really is the crux. And I suppose you probably know that the source of the word “cross” is the old Latin word “crux”? No wonder we use the word the way we do. The cross really is the crux of so much!
Your half a decoration is still telling the story. Jesus came to die so that we might live. Thank you for sharing at “Tell Me a Story.”
Beautiful post. I love the cross on your barn. What a great reminder, no matter what time of year it is, of all Christ has done for us.
Visiting from the link up at ‘A pause on the path.’
Dear Sylvia,
I use the Voskamp cradle to cross “wreath” every year to take me from Advent through to Easter. I am including the website in case someone who reads here has not seen this. http://adventtolenttoascensionwreath.blogspot.com/
Ann Voskamp’s son, Caleb, makes these by hand and sells them to support an orphanage in Haiti. Ann’s blog included a course of pictures he took when he visited the work his wreaths funded this past year. It is a wonderful tool that supports a wonderful work through Compassion International.
The cross is the purpose. Come, Lord Jesus!
Yes, Dawn. And it is lovely. Also, I notice the link says Advent to Lent to Ascension; so there it all is, all that beauty of God’s plan in the one decoration. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve always said in Christmas talks, Sylvie, that Jesus was born to die. If we leave Him in the manger, then we miss the real meaning of His birth. Thank you foor this precious reminder.
It’s pretty much the whole story, isn’t it, Hazel?
Cathy, I’m so glad you came over here to visit and comment, and we got to know each other a little. I’m looking forward to your future posts.
We tend to do that with Christmas, don’t we, Lynn? Leave Him in the manger? And miss the meaning.
May you have a deeply meaningful Christmas this year!
I love your favorite Christmas decoration! I’m with Beth…a good place to start this advent journey. Beautiful photos, BTW, Sylvia.