Short Stories

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The Pine Tree’s Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, Creator of all life on earth, I know that I am one of the least of Your creations. I have no comely flowers, and my branches are spindly and covered with needles that poke all who come near me. Still, Father, I live my life for You and Your glory.
I know that You can take my plainness and make me into something to bring You glory. O Lord, it is my wooden heart’s desire to be somebody’s Christmas tree. Lord, I do not want to be just anybody’s Christmas tree. I want to be the Christmas tree in the home of someone who does not know You or Your Son very well.
I know it would probably be much nicer to have the honor of being the Christmas tree in a home whose family knows You and Loves You, but what glory would that bring to You? There would be no ministry other than to stand in the midst of all the other remembrances of Your Son’s birth.
I know that possibility still exists in such a home as I am asking for, but Lord, I know that with Your help I can proclaim Your Son, Jesus Christ! By myself, I am nothing but a plain pine tree. I know also Lord, I am asking to die, but O Lord! What a glorious death it will be if only one person who sees me comes to know You and Your Son better!
My heart will cry out to all who want to know the true meaning of Christmas; for while at this time we celebrate His birth, we must remember that He came to die.
O Lord, when they lay the axe to my roots, bring to their remembrance One greater who died for all of mankind. Let them think on the pain of His suffering and draw near to Him.
When they drag me out of the forest, let them think on how He was made to drag His cross up that steep hill called Calvary, how difficult every step must have been. Remind them of their own crosses which You have called them to take up.
As they take me to the market, let them remember another market where Your beloved Son overturned the merchants’ wares. Let them be aware that there is too much commercialism surrounding the celebration of Your Son’s birth.
As they look us all over to choose just the right tree for their home, let them remember that You are calling them to be chosen, that You want all of them, but they must respond to Your call because many are called but few are chosen.
When they have made their choice and are paying for their chosen Christmas tree, let them remember that they are bought with a price; that being the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
When they drive home with their chosen tree, let them remember that their life is a journey to their eternal home. Do they know where their eternal home will be?
As the excitement builds in the family with the Christmas tree’s arrival at home, plain as it is, let them remember Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey and the excitement of all who were there that day.
As they smell the aroma of pine in their home, let them remember the scented oil He was anointed with to prepare Him for His burial. Let them also remember that their prayers are a sweet smelling savor to You.
As they set their tree up in the tree stand and turn the screws which will hold their tree in place, let them remember the nails that pierced His hands and feet; and if they get pine gum on themselves or their clothes, let them remember the blood of Jesus that was poured out for them and covers all who will confess their sins and repent of them. His blood clothes them in white.
If they have to cut any branches to make their tree fit better, let them remember how His side was pierced and how blood and water flowed out.
When they put the lights on their Christmas tree, let them remember that He is the Light of the world. He shines so brightly, the Light will never go out. Let them remember also that as there are many lights on a Christmas tree, so there are many lives in whom the Light of Christ shines. Are they shining forth with His Light?
As they hang ornaments on the Christmas tree, let them remember that all the glory belongs to God. The ornaments are the glory of the Christmas tree, and man is the glory of God. Let them ask themselves, “Am I bringing glory to God?”
As they crown the top of their tree with a star, let them remember the crown of thorns that was placed on His head. If they put an angel on the top of their Christmas tree, let them remember the angels who were seen in Christ’s tomb and told of His resurrection.
As they drape tinsel over the branches, let them remember the winding sheet they draped over His body when they laid Him in the tomb. It was all that was left in the tomb on that early Sunday morning at daybreak when the women came to the garden tomb to finish the burial preparations.
And when the whole tree is lit up, let them think on the glory of Christ’s resurrection! He has conquered death for them!
When they place their gifts under the branches, let them remember the greatest gift of all: Your Son, Jesus Christ!
Lord, I know that I am asking a lot and I know it will hurt. I know my branches will be tired just as His arms must have been tired on the cross. I know they may forget to water me and I will get thirsty, just as He thirsted on the cross while He was dying. But if You would just allow me the privilege of being this tree, use me Lord! Then, when they finally take my dead branches to the trash, maybe they will see one last picture: just as they have thrown me away, so has death been thrown away for them, never to return, by the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. If only one person hears Your message through me, then I have given my life to glorify You. Amen.

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