Rachel Whisman

I do not know what has gotten into me this year, but I am not the gal to put up the Christmas tree and decorations until after the Thanksgiving feast. Yet, this year my giddiness and excitement for the upcoming Christmas season overpowered my long-standing obstinance. 

Eagerly, I got the boxes out and quickly started putting up my tree with my favorite Christmas album playing in the background. If you have ever owned a plastic Christmas tree you know that after you put it together you need to fluff out the branches. Truthfully, growing up I despised this task. For me, it was just really boring as my brother and I kept doing the same thing over and over again. Yet, in the end, it made the tree look fuller and more beautiful. As I do this task now, I have to get close to the tree, spread out the limbs, get up, and back up a couple of feet to see if I missed any holes. You go back in, fluff the tree, step back at a different angle, and check again. You do this over and over until the tree is to your liking. 

While fluffing the tree this year it occurred to me how much in my own life I just get stuck and fixated on a certain part of the tree. I do not see the whole picture, but that which is just in front of me. It takes me stepping back and looking at a different angle to see better. How similar this is to life. I can’t do it all on my own. I try but then I struggle. I need help outside of myself. I need people in my life, who are wise, to help point out the things that I don’t see clearly because more times than not I am not willing to back up. I stay fixated on the issue thinking I can figure it all out from just my point of view.

From this, I concede and fall into the trap of thinking I know myself best, but I don’t. The only one who truly knows me is God (Psalm 139:1). It is hard living in a false sense of humility thinking you know best. The truth is I can only see myself dimly. Acceptance of that is the beginning of humility. Yet God in His kindness has given us help through His word and His people. I need the word of God to spur me on and bring clarity to who I am as a believer because I forget far too often or in pride think I don’t need to be reminded. I need my friends who aren’t persuaded by my feelings to help remind me of reality. I need older friends who are more seasoned in life to provide foresight where I lack experience. 

While finishing up the tree I thought through the people in my life who have been the spot checkers for me. Who have helped me to calm down when I have gotten frustrated by being fixated on a certain issue or pointed out a whole that I was completely blind to. The people who have helped me leave the spot I was in and back up to see the bigger picture. We need others and I am thankful that the body of Christ helps one another out. 

Who are your spot checkers? Who are the people who help you see yourself and the situations you are in more clearly? Stuart Scott recently said, “If you see it, say something.” Don’t just acknowledge that you have them, but steward your thankfulness and exhort and encourage them. If you see others helping out another by providing wisdom, say something to them. If you see something that is good, say something about it. May we see it and say something just like Paul did with the Church in Thessalonica. 

“We ought always to give thanks to our God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you is increasing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3

We do this because God is glorified and praised as we thank others because all good comes from Him. Thank Him and thank your spot checkers.

Here is one of my traditions. Putting up the Christmas tree while playing this on my TV. This is what I was refering to earlier in my post. Also, It is great for wrapping gifts or writing those Christmas cards. Just one hour of beautiful songs that help me slow down and look to Jesus in this busy season.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). NIV