A few years ago I’d been speaking at a women’s conference when a woman came up to me to say she almost didn’t come to the event because I was a speaker from Proverbs 31 ministries. She told me that chapter in the Bible made her feel bad, and every time she heard a message on Proverbs 31, she felt worse because the speaker seemed perfect and it made her feel like she should be, too. Then she said she was glad she came to my event that day. It made her feel better after hearing me speak since I didn’t have it all together.
I smiled and decided that was a compliment.
I’m always happy to encourage others with my not-so-together self. The truth is for many years I wanted to tear Proverbs 31 out of my Bible and pretend it never existed. But over time I discovered some powerful truths tucked into what used to be an intimidating passage. I’ll share those another day. For now, let’s just say I’m a P31 Woman in progress. Heck, I don’t even know what a distaff is and fine linen…well, does flannel count?
Just yesterday my husband’s friend came by to drop off something. I walked into our foyer and greeted him in my flannel top and bottom pajamas – at 5:15pm in the afternoon. I’d had a hard day and it showed. Well, my jammies were one thing but what he saw next was another. After listening to my explanation of why I looked like I was ready for bed, he grinned real big and said,
“Renee, is that a Christmas tree in your living room?”
Yep, he sure did. And yes that is a Christmas tree in my living room!
I know it’s St. Patrick’s day. I was planning to have green clover ornaments on it by now, thank you very much. I was going to decorate it with shamrocks this month, Valentine hearts last month and easter eggs next month. Andrew talked me into keeping it up so we could have a “holiday” tree through Easter. I agreed since I’d waited until February to take it down.
It was a great idea. The only problem is time passed. I got tired at the end of each day and started working on my book proposal and other things, and well I never took off the Christmas ornaments to replace them with other holiday themed ones. I just got so used to the thing in my living room that I didn’t want to take it down. It matches my decor – look at those beautiful greens and reds blending together!
But I am getting really funny looks these days. 
Lysa’s daughter Ashley gave me this look last week. And I’m starting to think parents are waging bets if it’ll still be up when they drop off their sons on Wednesday nights for youth group at our house each week.
But I also have to tell ya, it’s liberated some people! A friend told me it makes her feel better that I still have my tree up. I guess she used to think I had it a little more together. Another friend used to ask, “How do you do it all?”
Now she knows my secret…I don’t.
I just do what I can. And many times I don’t do it as well as I think I ought to. But that’s okay. At least that’s what I told myself and my family tonight when I announced we’re eating hamburger helper for dinner… and singing Christmas carols before bed. So what’s the latest you’ve left up your tree? Please tell me someone out there still has a tree up – I need a support group!
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Renee, I love this post! It’s so “real”!
Thanks for hopping over on my blog—I’m glad you loved the “As Yourself” post. Feel free to share it.
I will admit it. I still have my Christmas tree up. The reason is that my hubby and I really have no place to put it. Our storage room where the tree spent most of last years is slowly being cleaned out, so that it can be used for our daughters nursery when she arrives in June. So, I will admit my Christmas tree is still up, and I have gotten funny looks from family and friends too. God bless you!
Well, that makes me not feel so bad for still having my Christmas garland on top of my kitchen cabinets :-)LOL
Oh Renee…I LOVE you! I also love the fact that my son has been coming to your house once a week for at least two months and has not one time mentioned the fact that your tree is still up. I wonder if he’s even noticed? He probably just thinks it’s cool!
I’m glad that you’re perfectly just YOU! 🙂
A.
I love you!!! Thank you so much for being so very real. I’m learning to do that. I am so tired of wearing masks. I have done it for so long that when i do it now i don’t even realize it.
I lost my dad and my grandmother within a month of each other this year, and i have been in a deep dark hole for awhile now. All of my life i have felt less than, never good enough and never fitting in. Then i found drugs and for the first time i finally felt as though i belonged. But that sisn’t last either. I have been clean for 3 yrs now(PRAISE GOD!!!). But those feelings are still there. I have learned I am a very codependent person. We have a group called Celebrate Recovery at my church and i am proud to say i am a part of it. It helps me to hear from you and to hear from the wonderful people who leave comments. Thank you all so much!! Someone told me to start a gratitude journal i have never done that before…any suggestions???
Hi Renee,
I have a dear friend that kept her Christmas tree up all of last year, from November 2007 through Christmas 2008. I haven’t been over to her house recently – perhaps it is still up in her entrance hall! 🙂
Hope you are well.
Blessings,
Pearls
Renee,
Is that all you have, a Christmas tree still up in March? You hadn’t posted in a while and it had me worried. But girlfriend a Christmas tree in March is probably a lot more normal than you think. You had the courage to admit it. Where most people wouldn’t admit that kind of stuff.
I was afraid that you were going to tell us that you and some Leprechauns were out hiding Easter eggs with Santa Clause, now that needs a support group. Welcome back and hang in there!
Oh Renee, THANK YOU! In fact, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! What a blessing. More than anything, such a sweet post. Thanks for the love you sent us today through it! Praises!
My tree’s not up but it’s so refreshing to hear others don’t have it all together either! It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking. I love your honesty! BTW, it’s noon and I’m in yoga pants and a t-shirt still.
hee hee
This is too cute! Maybe I should send you a Christmas ornament. 😉
It really is a blessing to see that no one else has it all together. I so easily fall into the trap of wanting to have it all together, but if any of us did, people’s eyes could end up on us instead of Him. Praise God…I’m so not together most of the time there’s not a chance of me stealin’ the glory! 🙂
Love to you,
K 🙂
I’ve probably gotten close or even into February when I was working full-time. 🙂
Recently I noticed that my neighbor, who I don’t know very well, still had theirs up. That was just a couple of weeks ago.
Oh Sweet Renee…
I love this post. I can’t join your support group because of a Christmas tree— however, I have plenty of other red neck happenings over at my place that I’m sure could help me qualify…
Hugs to you my not so perfect friend!
OK Renee…don’t feel bad…two years ago we left our tree up ALL YEAR!!!
We have a HUGE artificial, pre-lit tree that actually does come apart in 3 places. However, each piece is unbearably heavy. (It’s tall enough that it stands in a corner that is ‘open to above’, stretching to the second level of our home.)
That year, time passed…and once summer came it seemed almost pointless to remove it. We too joked about making it a ‘holiday’ tree, but I never did add other ornaments. I ‘almost’ forgot it was there at times, but other’s entering our home enjoyed a good joke over it.
I have to admit to one thing. It did stand as a visual, constant reminder that the Christ of Christmas is with me all year long.
I wouldn’t give it another thought! Now I love you even more :o)
Hugs,
Joy
Think of it this way-you’re ahead of the game for this Christmas! :o9
Julie
I love your realness! I did a post on Proverbs 31 a few weeks back… the Lord sure uses you a lot to confirm areas of my life! Wow!
I actually didn’t take our tree down this year, my daughter did. I was struggling health wise and just didn’t care… it would still be up if not for her:)
That’s great! I love your transparency. Now I don’t feel so bad for not putting away the laundry… 🙂
-Michelle
I think the latest ours stayed up was last year; it came down just before my sons birthday at the end of January. I just took down our Christmas card tree a couple weeks ago (to hang up a schoolwork chart) and my nativity set, and Advent Nativity Tree are still up in the living room, if that makes you feel any better.
I look forward to hearing more about your thoughts on the Proverbs 31 woman. I’d love if you wanted to join us once in a while for Ruby Tuesdays, a blog event where others are joining in to discuss our thoughts on her as well.
Well there is a small table top BBQ on my front door step, buried under snow, that has been there since August.
Ok…so your redneck phrase came straight from your den. LOL I’ll send you some flags for July 4th.
I like the “holiday” tree.
Oh..this just reminded me, my tree stand is still on my patio. Isn’t it funny how we can overlook things we see everyday.
When I was in 6th grade we did a church play called “Christmas in July.”
There is also a Shel Silverstien poem about a Christmas tree on March the 25th. If I can find the words, I’ll send them to you!