The Tree of Christmas

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:1

By Gail Cartee

Hey Kids and Parents

Have you seen the EETCHY worm in your classroom? It’s made of colored beads and it helps kids organize their thoughts to tell a story. I want to use an EETCHY worm today to help us tell about a Christmas tree.

• The first bead of the worm is green to remind us what group we are talking about. Our group is Christmas Tree

• The second bead is blue to ask us what does it do. A Christmas Tree represents the various meanings associated with Christmas.
• The second bead is yellow with an eye on it. This asks us what does it look like.

A Christmas Tree looks like a tree covered with red, gold, blue and white balls, stars, angels, ribbons, and bells.

• The next bead is brown to ask what is it made of. A Christmas tree is made of wood.
• The next bead is pink to ask what are its parts. A Christmas tree has a trunk, branches, and evergreen needles.
• Then there is a white bead to ask where is it? A Christmas tree is placed inside or outside of a home where everyone can see its beauty.
• The last bead is orange and asks what else do you know. By now most of us have a pretty good picture of a Christmas tree in our minds and our answer to the question what else do you know may be, “That’s all.” Or that there are presents under the tree. But that’s not all!

Let’s go back and examine what we said about the tree.

• The blue said is represents the various meanings associated with Christmas. What meanings?
•  In the yellow we answered red balls
•  Red is the color of blood.
  • Gold balls. The wisemen brought Jesus gold and frankincense and myrrh.
  • Blue balls are the color of royalty. Jesus is King of Kings.
  • White balls are the color of purity. Jesus was without sin.
  • Wisemen followed a star.
  • Angels announced His birth.
  • Ribbons held the breastplate to ephod on the robe of the high priest.
  • Bells were sown around the hem of his robe so all could here him as he preformed his priestly duties. Jesus is our High Priest.
• The tree is made of wood. Christ shed His blood on a cross made of wood.
• The evergreen needles tell us that Jesus gives us eternal life.
• The trunk and the branches lead us back to our scripture: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
• We display our Christmas trees where all can see their beauty. So should Jesus be displayed in our lives that all can see His beauty.
• We want to come to the tree and receive the gifts. May all the world come to Jesus this Christmas and receive His gift of salvation.

May there be Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The last orange bead asks us “What else?”

What intentional things are you doing to put Christ in your Christmas?

You don’t have to do anything more, only think about the reason you are

• making cookies
• the places you are decorating
• the reasons for the decorations you are using

Do you need to research why we use a particular item?

Is there anything that surprises you?

Please share your Christmas blessings with us.

Blessings, Gail

Gail Cartee is a writer and teacher of hands-on family devotions. She and her husband live in the foothills of SC.  They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Gail writes Sunday School lessons for children and teens. She teaches in a  public school near her home. Gail often gets inspiration for her hands-on lessons while working in her organic garden.

Visit Gail at http://gailcartee.blogspot.com/ or email her at gcartee8645@windstream.net.

Image courtesy of Gail Cartee