Living and Learning

I am always amazed at how much our little ones pick up.  We (the kids and I) have been memorizing "The Living Christ" for Christmas and really enjoying it.  So I decided that we should have a Living Christ Christmas tree.  No Santas, reindeers, or snowman, just things that would remind us of what we had memorized.  I sat down and wrote a list.  I got the idea from the Jesse trees and thought it was a great idea.  I took some of the ideas from this blog and others I came up with on my own.  I wanted the ornaments to mostly be things that we could make. Here is a copy of the list if you are interested:

Sew hearts for “Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works
and the desires of our hearts.”

Punch tin stars,
Although we are one among millions the Father sees us as one-

and make a Styrofoam earth ornament (light catcher, tissue paper puffs) "Under the direction...

Cotton ball sheep-
 He ministered among his Other Sheep
We are also lambs in His fold and should listen to his voice

Seed ornament, or acorn
"He taught the truths of Eternity. . . the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come"

Peace and goodwill- Doves

empty string balls representing the empty tomb

Medical symbol "healing of the sick"

Gold crowns- "Rule as king of kings"

Candles-"eyes as a flame of fire"

Sun-
Countenence shone...

Ocean wave-
rushing of the great waters

ribbon path to Heaven

What makes us happy?

Red gifts
"His was a great vicarious gift..."

nativity ornaments for his birth

Mirrors- our lives reflect the matchless gift, Our lives are the symbol of Christ's atonement

Snow underneath
Hair as white as the pure snow

Angel Moroni
or first vision
In the modern World...

Family picture

Baptism photo

Fruit- "He was the first fruits of the grave"

So far we have many of these, but not all.  I was hoping to make it an ongoing Christmas tradition and re-memorize it every year so that those that were too young this year will still benefit and so that we can keep our thoughts focused on Christ.  Plus, I'm sure in a years time we will all need a review.

I knew my younger children wouldhave a hard time not putting up some of the ornaments, so I decided we could put up our small tree downstairs and they could decorate that one however they wanted.

I was right that they wouldn't be happy.  Some of the ornaments that they were not particularly attached to they were fine putting in the "other" box, but then we came to a Santa Claus ornament the Noah loved.   I explained to him patiently that only ornaments that were related to the "Living Christ" would go on our upstairs tree this year, but he could put it on the downstairs tree.  He said "It does have to do with it".  "O.K." I said "How?"

 My little boy looked me in the face and said, "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." As you can see, it is now hanging on the tree.  For the Snowman ornaments, it was explained to me that "the hair on His head was white like the pure snow".  And it went on until I think there may have been two ornaments that didn't make it on this years tree. 

I learned two lessons- 1. Mom's are not in charge of everything and 2. Children listen and learn more then you think they do.  And I think that our tree Is just as much a representation of the Living Christ as I meant for it to be with all of my careful planing.  In fact, it may even hold more meaning, because they imbued each ornament with a special meaning to them.