O Tannenbaum!

Lighted and green, the Christmas tree stands in the living room watching over the ever growing pile of prettily trimmed presents like a faceless gargoyle of the forest. It has taken days for his true form to develop and now he sits on the hearth as though he was on a flying buttress of Notre Dame. However, unlike a gargoyle, the tree fills those who look upon it with hope instead of dread. Hope that someone truly loves them enough to place a gift under his protection with the hope that behind the thin veil of paper lies a bit of magic that will transport them to another dimension. Hope that Christmas is not just another day, but a mirror of the soul of the world. A reflection of peace, joy and love; a harmony that six billion inhabitants cannot completely destroy because deep down inside all of them hope wells up, refreshes and nourishes them, giving the ability to make the world a place for their children to fluorish. And Christmas tree, I've charged you with illuminating the smiling faces of my children on that wonderful morning, letting them know that all is well with the world, if only for that moment. The moment before Mom and Dad wake up and they can just be kids.