For as long as I can remember an angel has topped my Christmas tree. When I was a child, it was an inexpensive paper angel with a silk dress and blond strands of hair. Now my angel has a bit more sophistication, but she has a habit of leaning one way or the other.

The first couple of presents I wrapped looked a little rough. I guess I’m out of practice. I love to wrap presents, and it frustrates me when I can’t make the package look like I want it to look. Really, how hard can it be to tie a perfect bow and find a matching nametag?

I started looking for Christmas treats to make. My requirements are that they have to be simple and not require much precision. Even then I have a slim chance of making them look Pinterest perfect.  I usually just hope for something that is edible and not a sticky mess.

I say all of this with a bit of tongue in cheek. I don’t stress myself out over these things, not this early anyway. My tilted angel is part of our tradition now. My original bows are a source of lots of smiles on Christmas morning and my family still, requests my sticky treats. So, I guess perfect surroundings and extras are not what Christmas is all about.

I seem to recall that surroundings of the first Christmas were not perfect either. Mary was a very traveled worn mother to be. Joseph was a protective and worried earthly father. I’m sure he would have loved to have provided Mary with first class accommodations, but it was not to be. Instead, they were led to a stable, a simple manger in which to lay their newborn. Can you imagine with me that it was drafty and smelly from the animals? Not what most of us would consider acceptable as a place to give birth.

No, the conditions weren’t perfect but the baby that was born that night was. He was everything that he was meant to be when God sent him to earth to be born. He was perfect that night, and he still is. So, let’s not let our less than perfect extras distract us from celebrating the birth of our perfect Savior. When I look at my tilted angel this year, I will think about the angels that proclaimed his birth.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) (KJV)