Gratitude Challenge: Day 25

I have decided to spend the month of November focusing on thankfulness. To help me with this challenge, I signed up to receive a daily prompt from the Day One journal app, encouraging me to write about something I am thankful for. I will, of course, aim to pair the daily journal entry with a photo.

Here is today’s prompt:

What’s a modern convenience or technology that I’m thankful for?

This might be a silly one, but I am thankful for Christmas lights. 

Tonight I had the privilege of being a part of the Mt. Eaton Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. We showed up and noticed that the corner of Dover Rd and S Market St was pretty dark. 

The mayor said a few words, and then we counted down from ten, and the lights came on!

I don’t know what it is about Christmas lights, but they sure seem to light up more than just the cold, dark night. They seem to be such a symbol of hope and joy.

I did a little digging, and it appears that the first public Christmas tree display was set up in 1931 in New York City. It was during the Great Depression, a time of cultural darkness and hopelessness, a time when there was a serious lack of joy.

In the midst of the hopelessness, a man named John D. Rockefeller Jr. began construction on what would become the Rockefeller Center. Though construction workers were experiencing 60% unemployment at the time, Rockefeller hired 40,000 construction workers to complete the project. In 1931 the workers erected a 20 foot balsam fir using garlands made by their families and the tinfoil ends of blasting caps. The tree truly became a symbol of hope and joy for the local community and beyond.

This story reminds me, in a way, of what was written by the prophet Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2, ESV

Of course, Isaiah wasn’t talking about Christmas tree lights… he was talking about Jesus! Jesus is the light of the world!

No matter how dark, no matter how difficult, no matter how hopeless things seem to be, Jesus can light up the darkest situation.

This year, when you look at a lit Christmas tree, I hope it reminds you of Jesus. Let His light shine in your home, in your heart, and throughout your community.