Natures Christmas Tree

     Looking out my bay window is like watching a big screen TV of real life in action. My holly tree is full of big fat red berry clusters.  It is natures Christmas tree. Among the branches, I see a few red cardinals here and there.  I see a woodpecker with a black and white spotted coat and a red cap upon his head.  You have to look close for the many other various birds that pick at the abundant fruit, but they are there you just take the time to look.  There are fluffy squirrels with their winter coats plush. They dance throughout the tree. Then one settles upon a branch nestled within a space. It is a perfect spot for an ornament. You can’t help but see him against the background of the deep green shinny leaves, nibbling away at his new found treasures of delight.  Another squirrel goes out to furthest end of a branch, a place where any other ornament would fall to the ground from its weight.  How graceful he sits upon it, bobbing up and down as he nibbles on one berry at a time.  His mouth moves a mile a minute as he chomps away at his treasured prize grabbing one berry after the other.  He appears as light as a feather, and I wonder how he does that.

     It is a tree of life more beautiful then any Christmas tree I could decorate myself. I feel blessed with a glimpse of heaven as I stop in my busyness to look at God’s creation.  It reminds me of what he so often calls me to, the simplicity of life, and what is truly important.  The birds, and squirrels, and what ever else lives within the tree, they don’t worry about tomorrow.  They take pleasure in the joy of the moment.   That’s all that matters and as they party harder in the tree dancing from branch to branch, singing their beautiful songs, eating from the tree of plenty there is peace and joy in their simplicity and I am blessed .