Styrofoam Angels

​What goes on the top of your Christmas tree? An angel? A bow? A star?
 
When our children were young they created an angel out of a disposable Styrofoam cup. The angel had a Styrofoam ball head, cotton hair, big blue sequin eyes, silver wings made from a repurposed Christmas bow, and a halo of plastic flowers poked into the angel’s head. The kids named her Gloria. In my opinion, Gloria was the prettiest ornament on the tree.
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I’m sad to say, since the children have grown and moved out of the house, Gloria no longer has a place on the family Christmas tree. I bring her out every year, along with the other decorations, and suggest she be returned to her favored position on top of the tree—every year Kathie overrules the suggestion. At which point, I return Gloria to the crumpled pasteboard box that bears her name.
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Beside Gloria’s name are the names of my three children: Faith, Ryan, and Nathan. Beside the children’s name we chronicled the year it was their turn to place Gloria on the tree. It never fails, as I close the lid on the Styrofoam angel—with her faded hair and broken wing—I savor the memory of holding my children on my shoulders, watching with joy as they gingerly placed Gloria on top of the tree. 
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The angel appears to be nothing more than an old disposable cup that should have been tossed in the trash years ago; but to me, it is a cup filled with Christmas treasures—sacred memories that I will value for eternity.
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The Styrofoam angel in the bottom of our Christmas decorations reminds me of God’s upside down kingdom. Jesus said, those who are last will be first; the meek will inherit the earth, and those who are humble will be exalted.  People, places, and things, that are devalued and overlooked in this world are lifted up and deeply appreciated in the Father’s heart.

• A pheasant girl from Nazareth--a town that nothing of value would come from—becomes the mother of God.
• A humble manger becomes a bed for the Son of God.
• Lowly Shepherds, tending their flock on the backside of Bethlehem, become the audience of angels and the first to hear a savior has been born.

​If this Christmas season you feel worn-out and under-appreciated; if you believe the lie that joy was meant for everyone else but you; if you are holding your breath, waiting for the holidays to pass because they only serve to remind you that you are alone and unhappy, may I share some good news with you . . . there is a good Father in heaven who deeply treasures who you are.
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It is God’s desire to lift you up and exalt you to a place of glory!