Seeing The Forest For The Trees...

Every year...around this time...

My parents attend a Christmas gathering

Of family and friends. 

It has always been a tradition

of my mother's

To make her famous peanut butter balls

and an ornament

for each of the families at the party.

I always help her with this task.

Last year,

I made "lobstahs"..

This year,
Mom wasn't feeling well enough
to make the peanut butter balls...

So...
I sewed up 25 little bags...
and made several batches...
for her to take to the party.

I usually make the ornament...
And this year I decided to do
a fun little one
that was very inexpensive to make!

My husband cut a birch limb
into 1/2 inch thick circles...
and drilled little holes for the ribbon.

 

After letting them dry
under the woodstove...
I stamped a little pine tree
on each wood circle.


 

Then, using a toothbrush,
I spattered white paint
for a snow effect.


 

I then added some 
three dimensional "snow"
to the bottom of each one!


 

You can buy this "snow" already made
in the craft department of most stores...
Or make your own by mixing
white glue and clear plastic crystals.


 

I added a red ribbon bow
and tie to each.


 

I boxed the 25 bags complete 
with 10 peanut butter balls each
for my parents to take to the gathering.

Unfortunately, they were unable to attend.
But my oldest brother was able to take
the "treats" down to Massachusetts.

While making these ornaments
I thought about the saying...

"You can't see the forest for the trees..."

This saying is usually used when
expressing that a person is focusing
too much on specific problems
and is missing the point.

Or, in other words,
Paying too close attention to detail
And not seeing the whole picture.

Remember the account of the 
miraculous feeding of the five thousand?

This was the only miracle
recorded in all 4 gospels.

What Jesus commanded his disciples to do
seemed impossible...
to feed such a large and hungry crowd
with such little provisions...

The disciples just couldn't see 
"the bigger picture..."

That this miraculous food
foreshadowed the true heavenly bread
which Jesus would offer his followers.

For He, alone,
is the true bread of heaven
that can satisfy the deepest hunger
we experience.

My dad made this bread box for me many years ago...

"And Jesus said unto them,

I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me shall never hunger..."

 John 6:35