o christmas tree

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

How hungry are your branches!

Yes, how hungry are your branches.  Thus begins a wonderful season in our life - where children make up words to holiday songs, and we all sing them together.  Obi-2 was singing this with gusto the other day, and Obi-1 chimed in, and they cannot be convinced that the lyrics are about anything but a hungry tree.  You will probably have this version stuck in your head every time you drive past a tree lot or see your lights sparkle on your home's hungry evergreen branches.

The thing is, our tree is technically not hungry... because it's fake.  This, all by itself, requires much discussion in our home.  As "fake" means "pretend," and clearly it's not a "pretend" tree, because it's standing right there!  I tried explaining that it's "pretend" in that it's not "real" or "live," but was quickly asked why a cut tree is considered "live," as it's really not connected to its roots, anymore.

So, our Christmas tree is pretending to be hungry.  Which reminds me - there is actually a lot of hunger this time of year, in spite of the fact that many of us gain cookie pounds and temporarily satisfy our appetites for stuff.  Consider pulling out a little of your holiday budget, and give to somebody who doesn't know you & may not recognize your gift.   Isn't that the idea of Christmas - a gift, undeserved, to those who did not know the Giver?  Better yet, don't just do it this month - pull a little aside throughout the next year, and find a way to be a gift to the hungry.

Then sing with us in joy & gladness: 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

How hungry are your branches!