Permanent Christmas Tree vs. the Real Tree, White Lights vs. Different Color Lights, etc...

My wife and I purchased our first "permanent" Christmas tree this year.  It is a beautiful tree with the same look as a real fir tree but without all of the watering, falling needles, and allergic reactions.  It has only taken thirty-two years to convince her, at least temporarily, to the benefits of the permanent Christmas tree.  We can put it up anytime we want without spending hours looking for that perfect tree by visiting the local tree lots or tree farms with the annual comments of "It's too big, too small, too dry, too many holes in the limbs,  or not straight.

I love the new tree but I will forever remember the quality time that I spent with my wife and children finding that perfect tree every year.  Laughing at each other when we would go out to the tree farms and wait to see who would trip over all the stumps first.  Dealing with frustrations of hours of looking but ending up laughing as we struggled to cut the tree down with a hand saw which is the real reason I bought a chain saw.  But somehow after all those trees we would always end up saying, "That may be the prettiest tree we have ever had."

Then the other night as we completed the process of putting the ornaments on is when I realized what I really like about our tree.  It is not the tree but it is the memories, which are a culmination of years of having ornaments given to us by special people or made by our family for us and remembering the time when these ornaments were made or the people they represented.  Pictures of the boys, our first ornament, ornaments of our family dogs, and this year having our grand daughter kiss an ornament with a squirrel on it as she puts that ornament on the tree are all examples of these memories.  And, in some cases, shedding a few tears as I remember those who will not be with us this year.

At this point some of you are  probably asking why is he writing about Christmas trees in the GEA newsletter.  The answer is simple.  As the old preacher once said, "Nobody on their death bed wished they had spent more time at work."  Remember that both as an employee and an employer. 

Take off if you can, hug those around you, tell them you love them and care for them.  If you are an employer who will have people working during the holiday season, remember to thank your work family for their efforts and commitment to you for working during the holidays.

As for some of you, like my wife, who will have to work on Christmas eve and Christmas day, take the time to celebrate when you can.  It is not about the day, or about the tree, or about Santa, presents, real or permanent tree and whether your lights are white or different colors.  It is about creating memories with those you love and remembering the One who is the reason for this celebration.

If you are alone this holiday season, volunteer to help someone, do something to see someone smile, visit a nursing home, hospital or those less fortunate than you.  You just might create the best Christmas memory you will ever have. 

By the way, we have the prettiest permanent tree we have ever had.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!!!

Buddy McGehee, SHRM-SCP

Director of GEA