On the first day of Christmas, Christ revealed to me: the grandeur of nature nestled in the trees.

Lea and the tree at Skamania Lodge.

Since I was old enough to hold onto the gold moon and star ornaments my mom made by hand, my heart has been drawn to the beauty of Christmas trees. And when my parents and I hunted for our Douglas Fir, we were never drawn to the average 8-footers. The Smith style was 20 feet of deep green boughs, spaced out enough to fill with my favorite childhood stuffed animals.

Almost every night, I would lay beside the tree and stare up through the 20 strands of soft, white lights, taking in the smell of earthy pine, which will forever be the scent of Christmas.

Christmas trees are by no means necessary to celebrate Christmas, but I very much see the Joy of the season in these beautiful pines.

Uncle Chuck and I enjoying time by the tree in 2008.

Have you ever thought about how many needles are on a pine tree? A LOT. Each of those needles is different – varying in length, width, even the angle that it stems from the branch. To think that God made each of these trees, all of the intricate details that go into every single needle … it’s mind blowing! What other time of the year do we get to bring a tree this amazing into our homes?

Not only do we get to witness the beauty of the tree itself, we also get to adorn it with objects that hold meaning to us. When you hang your baby’s first Christmas ornament on the bough next to the popsicle stick reindeer you made in kindergarten, you place parts of your story onto a living creation that has as many different branches as your own path.

As we gather around the Christmas tree, we see our families grow – whether from birth to adulthood, or the addition of a new child or son-in-law. Like all of nature that is growing around us, we realize that God’s plan for our growth is alive and purposeful. Would we recognize the small seed that grew into a 20-foot-tall Noble?

He has big plans for us, just like the plan for that special tree to be in your living room.

I hope that you get the chance to experience the grandeur of nature this Christmas season. “Let heaven and nature sing!”

Seeking inspiration? Listen to this version of “Joy to the World,” by Jason Gray.

** Check back tomorrow to see what Joy I’ve discovered on the Second Day of Christmas. **