Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
As Thanksgiving made way for the Christmas holiday, I pulled out the festive decorations tucked away in the attic. As the boys voted to do away with the mistletoe, I vetoed their decision. Up went the mistletoe! I can’t help it they haven’t figured out how to avoid standing under it. I admit it is becoming more difficult to reach the oldest when he doesn’t want a smooch since he needs to bend down, but I manage even if it’s out of pity that he allows the big smack on his cheek.
I knew that when I read number 25 of Things You Didn’t Know About Christmas posted by David Pegg, I had to share with my boys. It went against my best interest, but there are some things that are too good to keep to myself. When I could work it into a lesson, I couldn’t resist, even if it meant the possible demise of my mistletoe.
Here’s what I read about number 25: Mistletoe…Literally meaning “dung twig”, mistletoe is named after the fact that it tends to spring out of bird droppings on trees after the seeds have passed through the bird’s digestive tract. Not only this but it can also be very parasitic, often requiring a host tree in order to sustain itself. So, next time you kiss your significant other beneath the mistletoe, remember, you’re standing beneath a parasitic poop twig.
I admit that this information wasn’t so bad if I thought about it. Now that they’re teenagers, I certainly don’t want them smooching under the mistletoe just because it’s tradition! Mainly, I thought this was cool enough information that I’d get their attention long enough to get a lesson across. It started as I suspected with my wonderful darlings saying, “See Mom, this is what you insist on hanging in our house.”
After we got over the interruptions to my brilliant speech, I found a way to bring about the main idea. What are we keeping in our lives that are out of habits or tradition? Do we even know where they came from? Really, can mistletoe be considered romantic or even a fun holiday tradition after getting the facts? I think that its time for us to look at some of the facts about what we’re keeping in our lives.
Also, don’t we all have some host trees that we attach ourselves to that aren’t so healthy? It’s not their fault because they were never meant to sustain us; we only have One that could do that. Too often we attach to someone who doesn’t have a limitless supply of wisdom, strength, and love.
Let’s look at this one more way. Are we being the parasitic poop twig (PPT as I like to call it) in someone else’s life? Are we draining those around us with our attitudes, words, or actions? We don’t want to be sucking their life out of them!
I challenge you to think about these things. Do you have any PPTs in your life that you’re still standing beneath because it’s tradition? Are those habits or people draining you? Here’s an even bigger question…are you being the PPT that’s draining a host not meant to give you your water and nutrients?
Try plugging into the source and drink the water given by Jesus! The Holy Spirit is a gift that can be accepted this holiday season.
