Leaning Tree, but not Dot’s
©Internet
Dot’s Christmas Tree ~ by Dorothy (Dot) Malcolm
The schedule says on Friday, December 6th, I’m to get my Christmas tree. In spite of the fact I’m nearly “sick as a dog” (whatever that means), I tell myself it must be done!
There were only a few trees left but I selected one that was supposed to be 6 feet tall. What made it 6 feet, was a single 12 inch needle sticking up at the top. Oh well, onward with the task at hand.
Earlier in the day I had gotten the stand out of the shed and cleaned it up. There were 3 of those things that you turn to help hold the tree in place. Family helped me by putting the tree in the stand and securing the 3 things and putting water in it. I could hardly wait to get back on the couch with a heating pad and fuzzy old blankets.
I spent two days looking at the tree and finally decided I could muster of enough “oomph” to put a couple of strand of lights on it. I had finished 2 strands when I felt the tree going over and I didn’t have the strength to stop it!
Oh yes – water and needles were on the floor! Two big water-soaked bath towels and a little sweeping up with the broom took care of the mess.
I told the tree I didn’t like it because it wasn’t big and full as trees in previous years. From my place on the couch I kept letting it know I didn’t like it!
Pondering about what to do about the imbalance problem, I came up with a great idea! Get some stones and put them around the top of the stand! I did this the next day and “Wow!,” it worked. I was real proud for thinking it up!
In between resting on the couch, and pulling boxes of decorations out of the closet, I managed to place a few decorations. It was days later before the 50-year-old paper houses were put under the tree.
As I slowly recovered, I had fewer negative feelings for the tree. It seems the tree and I have made a truce. I am accepting it for what it is. After all it got stuck with me!
by Dot Malcolm (2014)
Leaning Tree, but not Dot’s
©Internet
Lee’s Addition:
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18 NKJV)
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Romans 14:19 NKJV)
When Dottie told me about her not liking her tree on Sunday, I suggested that she write it up so I could share it. She gave it to me this evening at our fantastic Christmas Candlelight Service. I trust you enjoy this as much as I do. Dottie is Emma Foster’s grandmother. You can see where Emma may have picked up her creative writing. Dottie has been a Sunday School teacher for many years. Thank you, Dottie (Dot).
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Other writings by Dot:
- When The Robins Came
- Return of the Robins
- Thankful For The Lord’s Birds
- The Joy of Awareness
- I Just Happened
- One Is Enough
- Picnic In February
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(Photos added by Lee)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 
I love this. I can relate to those very negative feelings — and the fact that when you’re really feeling super bad physically — and have to do the stuff you’re too sick to do anyway — all those bad feelings get transferred to everyone and everything else. Such is life, huh? But, thank God, the other part of life is that when you finally get better physically, all those other things and other people seem to have made significant changes for the good. Yay, God!
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