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~Three friends spend an evening decorating a tree and drinking hot spiced cider

as they talk about Christmas, their families, the war and their faith.~ 

A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD played in the background, and the aroma of hot spiced cider wafted through the air. Sarah Little paused from opening a box of jingle bells to enjoy the sight of the 6-ft. tree strung with twinkling lights and strands of wooden cranberries. Her dear friend, Jessica, was humming along to Angels We Have Heard on High while admiring what looked like a Hallmark® ornament. Their friend Kate walked back into the room with her second cup of hot cider, sipping it carefully.

Kate cleared her throat, wearing a concerned look on her face.

“Jess,” she said, shaking her head, “You’re just asking for trouble, setting the tree up in the middle of the floor. What if it falls? Don’t you want to move it to that corner near the fireplace, where it would be safe?”

Jessica just laughed. “Oh no. It will be fun to see the tree from all sides this year.”

“What would your husband think?”

The light in Jessica’s eyes dimmed a little. “Unless the Lord moves soon, Sam won’t be home for Christmas anyway. So it doesn’t matter.”

Poor Jessica. Sam was in electrical engineering, but he’d spent 3 years in the navy and was also a member of the Reserves. The Ransfords had three children, ages 7, 10, and 13. Since the terrorist attacks on America, Sam had been called back into active duty, leaving Jessica to handle everything on her own.

Sarah started to hang a bell near the tree top.

“Wait,” Jessica called. “The bells go around the bottom of the tree.”

“All of them?”

Jessica giggled, the light returning to her eyes. “Yes. They act as my alarm, ringing to let me know if one of the children has run too close to the tree or is snooping through the packages underneath.”

Kate shook her head. “Where were you when I needed you?” she joked. “I could have used that idea when Joshua was little!”

Jessica’s gaze was on the ornament in her palm. Sarah handed a bell to Kate and took a closer look at Jessica’s ornament. “What is that? A birdhouse?”

Jessica held it up for Sarah and Kate to see. “It’s a first-year-together ornament,” she said. “See? There are the two lovebirds, and it says ‘home tweet home’ above the door. Sam and I picked this out 15 years ago.” She hung it tenderly in one of the upper branches.

Sarah almost sighed. She worked full-time and also cared for her diabetic mother, who had moved into a small house with her two years previously. She was so busy that she had reached the age of 29 without any romantic attachments. She longed to know the joys of marriage and motherhood and picking out special ornaments for her own family.

She hung the last bell on the tree and reached for her cup of spiced cider, taking a sip of the liquid and enjoying the taste of cinnamon and the warmth coursing down her throat.

Kate had pulled a set of candy cane ornaments from the big cardboard box and was walking around the tree placing them here and there. “Do you suppose your kids are enjoying the evening out with Paul and Joshua?” she said to Jessica.

“I’m sure they are,” Jessica replied, hanging another ornament at eye level. “They all love to ice skate, and Paul is so good with them. And your son is so tolerant of Caleb always wanting to wrestle!”

“Yes, he is good with kids,” Kate said a little sadly. “I always thought he would have made a great big brother.”

Sarah knew that Kate was thinking of her miscarriages. “How does Joshua like working at the veterinary clinic?”

The question put a smile back on Kate’s face. “He’s loving it, and Dr. Hartley has nothing but praise for him.” One of the golden bells jingled as she stepped too close to the tree, and Jessica playfully wagged her finger before Kate continued. “He’s always had a gentle way with animals, you know.”

“Maggie is like that, too,” Jessica said, reaching again into the box and drawing out another special ornament. “That’s why we bought this kitty ornament.” It was a lovely white kitten with a red bow. “Now that she’s 13, I’m thinking of collecting more animal ornaments for her, and then I’ll give them to her when she gets married.” Her voice caught on the last word, and her eyes welled up with tears.

“Oh, Jess,” Sarah said softly, putting an arm around her friend.

Jessica struggled to pull herself together and sniffed. “You two are so sweet to come and help me get my decorations up. I just wish Sam could be here.”

Kate took the ornament from Jessica’s hand and placed it on the tree. “I know how you feel,” she said. “These are scary times. I don’t know how I’d survive if Paul was called away.”

“But I’m not scared,” Jessica said, brushing a stray hair out of her eyes. “I know God is in control, and he’ll take care of us while Sam is gone. He’s watching over Sam, too.”

Kate raised her eyebrows. “I know that God is in control,” she said. “But I’m still never going to fly again, and I’m staying away from the malls.”

Sarah stifled a giggle and reached for the gingerbread ornaments.

“I’m not afraid to fly,” Jessica said, holding out a white dove to Kate. “As a matter of fact, the kids and I are flying home to be with my family for Christmas.”

Kate nearly dropped the dove that she was trying to hang on an upper bough. “Why?” she asked incredulously.

“Because it’s the quickest way to get there,” Jessica replied. She sat down on the arm of an overstuffed easy chair. “Honestly, Kate, I believe God will protect us. And anyway, I think believers especially should be on every plane.”

“Why?” Kate asked again.

“In the event of another hijacking, the Christians could explain the plan of salvation to their fellow passengers and help them pray the sinner’s prayer and be saved.”

Tears started to form in Sarah’s eyes. That was one of her concerns about the plane crashes. Of all those who died, how many were prepared to meet the Lord?

“What about your children?” persisted Kate.

Jessica understood the question. “They’ve all accepted Jesus as their personal savior. Brianna finally asked Jesus into her heart a few months ago.”

“I wish I could be sure about Joshua,” Kate said, kneeling beside the ornament box. She took out an angel and ran her fingers over its chiseled wings. “He’s been in church all his life, but he’s never mentioned a salvation experience to me, and I’m afraid to ask. I don’t know if I’d get an honest answer, or just the answer he thinks I want to hear.”

Jessica pulled an angel tree topper out of the box. “Maybe I wouldn’t be so quick to hop on a plane with my children if I weren’t sure of their salvation.”

Sarah hung her last gingerbread ornament on the tree, then dropped to sit on the floor beside Kate. The melodic Jingle Bells was playing. Looking up at Jessica, she said, “I worry about would happen to Mother if I were ... incapacitated. That’s why I’m really careful with our mail. It’s incredible to think it could be contaminated with anthrax.”

“When we heard on the news to be prepared for more attacks, Caleb said that he knew how everyone could be prepared.”

“How could he?” Kate asked. “He’s only ten. I’m in my 30's, and I don’t even know what it means to be prepared!”

“Caleb says all you have to do is, ‘be good, kiss your husband or wife goodbye every day, and ask Jesus into your heart.’That sums it all up,” Jessica finished with pride.

“Your son has a lot of wisdom for his age,” Sarah said thoughtfully.

They jumped as the telephone rang, interrupting their conversation. Jessica handed her angel to Sarah and hurried to take the call.

“Hello? ... Sam, it’s you! How is everything? ... You’ll never guess where I put the tree. ... How did you know?!”She giggled and blushed. “The girls are here helping me.... I miss you, too. The kids pray for you all the time. ... They’re out skating tonight. ... I’ll tell them. We’re trusting God. ... I know you are. I love you, too, Sweetie. Merry Christmas!” 

God is in control. Trust Him. Let Him meet your every need. Be filled with peace. Best wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday season, wherever you are.

Copyright 2001 by  Brenda B. Covert