Life is Here

This has become my favorite ornament on the tree this year.

While merrily decorating our tree, my 7 year old spied this teeny bird's nest built deep inside our tree, near the safety of the trunk.

To think that we were nearly done decorating before anyone saw it!

We could have spent the entire Christmas season bustling around our tree... arranging and rearranging presents, watering the base, enjoying the twinkling of the bulbs, vacuuming up fallen needles, plucking off a candy cane to munch while we read stories on the couch, fondly reminiscing the family events represented by our baubles and bangles, admiring the balance and texture of our lovely evergreen friend... and completely missing the subtle message nestled within its quietness.

"Life is here."

Life is here.

*We carefully pulled the nest out and placed it on a prominent bough for all to admire. Such a beautiful message the Lord has for me in this little home of twigs. Subtle, quiet, always there but not always acknowledged. Humble.
** Read Mary's post on subtlety. Quite good.