“Dead branches, Mom?” my joyful son asked. “Really?”
Then the 3 youngest sons tossed around a dialogue orchestrated to love me in a tormenting kind of way that boys do so gracefully.
Yes, dead branches. But these dead branches have infused a new life, a new spirit into our Christmas. Hanging from each branch is the History of God’s plan.
Creation, Adam and Eve, the Fall of Man, Noah.
I almost allowed my imperfect desire to do things perfectly to cause me to miss something wonderful.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
Early last week, I stumbled across Elizabeth at Just Following Jesus and her post entitled, “A Jesse Branch . . . an Advent Idea.” I’d never had a Jesse Tree before or used an Advent Calendar – lots of reasons. By the time the semester ended and my students essays were graded and recorded – well, we were already into December. Advent had started before I was ready. Having a huge age difference between 5 sons seemingly limited the art projects to just the little ones – nullifying the family-ness of the project. Then, one day, my boys had outgrown Jesse Tree activities – and I thought in my imperfection, I missed it.
Moses, Samuel, Jesse, David
Elizabeth’s Jesse Branch encouraged me to act in my imperfection – and, by the end of last week, I had a Jesse Branch, an unconventional Jesse Branch.
Solomon, Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist
We can’t manage one a day since we started late – and instead of being behind – we have been blessed in the catching up.
Jesus is Wisdom, Jesus is Lord
The first night, the now 5 of us shared the reading of the first 4, hanging the tags and coordinating scripture on a branch. The next day was frazzling and the day after something special happened.
Jesus is the Flower of Jesse
The oldest son stopped by, and I pulled 4 out – one for each of the boys to read. And each shared a story of Jesus’ family tree, a bit of Christmas written into the afternoon.
Jesus is the Key of David
A few hours later, my husband arrived home with our soldier son, having spent 12 hours traveling to pick him up and bring him home for “Christmas Exodus.” Before this broken and rebuilt son left the house to see his sweetheart, I pulled father and son over to the Jesse Branch, handing each a tag and scripture. Before this son left, he added to the story of Christmas, then hung the tags and scripture on those dead branches.
Jesus is the Radiant Dawn
Allowing God’s story to find a way despite my imperfections, despite not doing it “by the book.”
Jesus is King of the Gentiles
My imperfections allowed all my children, big and small, to breath, speak, and hear Scriptures written on tags telling a story. More than ornaments on a tree. The Living Word – hung on dead branches.
While the ornaments on my Christmas Tree are limited to my family story – these tags on these dead branches tell the most important family story of this Christmas Season – the family story I was adopted into.
Jesus is Light of the World
The tags and scriptures on these dead branches tell of God’s plan to save me, to save my husband, to save each of my sons, to save baby girl due New Years Eve – these tags and scriptures are the plot out-line and promises of that plan lived out.
“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8)
I was willing to try despite my imperfection. In the trying I found blessing – and that blessing spilled over to my sons.
“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life” (2 Corinthians: 14-15).
Live Christmas out of the box!
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Jesse Branch Scriptures:
1) Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4
2) Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24
3) Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24
4) Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22
5) Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3
6) Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14
7) Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15
8) Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15
9) Moses: Ex. 2:1-10
10) Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18
11) Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13
12) David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51
13) Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28
14) Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25
15) Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
16) John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8
17) Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1
18) Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1
19) Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3
20) Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22
21) Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7
22) Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20
23) Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22
24) Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14
What a lovely Jesse Tree! Last year we did Ann V’s Jesse tree ornaments that she includes with her Advent Devotional and I found it one of the most transforming things we’ve done. I love your dead branches! I think they are quite beautiful.
Thanks…I love this…this encourages me…I did the Jesse tree when the kids were you…now like you…I have older kids…kids out of the house…I love how you just “risked” and God showed up…pulling the kids in…you did not have to…gives me things to ponder…maybe next year:)
Oh blessings and enjoy time with your son home for Christmas…
just a bunch of dead branches – I can imagine that exchange – and what you did – beautiful! Not so dead branches. And all the homework that you dead – all the wisdom in this post – yes – live Christmas right out-of-the-box. And I read Elizabeth – a good Christian mama – and one more thing Maryleiegh, for months I haven’t been reading enough of the blogs that I heart – and I hope you know I heart yours. So instead of posting 10 posts a week on my two blogs – I’m going down to eight posts per week. I’m thinking that the extra time can be used to read more – and for goodness sakes, comment every once in a while. I’m sorry I haven’t read you enough – this should help. Anyway, God bless you my friend, and Merry “Jesse tree” Christmas!
Omgosh, I have never seen this before. What a wonderful idea and way to live it out. Love this! What a blessing. I might have to give this a try next year.
I also have never seen this before but I love what you did…so encouraging and beautiful 🙂
We did the Jesse tree when our kids were little…maybe next year I should do it for me!
This year was a first for following Advent at home. I managed a sorta Advent calendar for my step daughter, and once that was in the mail, time entered warped speed and we did not get to it at home…a must for next year, in fact, I think I will go ahead and get tags ready.
Oh, there is such blessing in the trying. “Act in our imperfections.” I live by that–a little done imperfectly is better than none attempted at all. God takes our 5 loaves and 2 fish and can feed a multitude with them.
Beautiful. May I live Christmas out of the box too!! As my sons have told me. . It is all thanksgiving. . Thank you for Jesus. Everyday. Thank you .
Loved being here today new friend.
I’ll never look at dead branches the same way again. 🙂 That really is beautiful. Well done!
Merry Christmas!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s for Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
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We studied about the Jesse Tree last year in Sunday school. It’s amazing those who are in Jesus’ lineage.
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