I sit here reflecting on Christmas, sipping my creamy eggnog out of a favorite, chipped and giant Christmas tree mug, listening to Michael Buble croon about it “Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” The sun is shining on me (hooray!!!) and the space heater blowing. It’s a grand day – we had a wonderful Christmas season. One of our activities included the Toledo Christmas Weed.
Yes, you read that correctly, a Christmas weed! On Sunday we had my husband’s family Christmas celebration. During conversation, I mentioned the viral Toledo Christmas weed. Being only 4-5 miles from the weed we really had to go see it! So we piled into my sis-in-laws car and off we went to see what it was that had taken the US by storm. (Yes, this little weed had gone nationwide.)
The weed isn’t really anything significant. It’s just a scraggly old weed growing in the middle of an intersection in Toledo. Standing about 2 feet tall this little guy inspired someone to place a tiny tree skirt around the base, miniature train and colorful lights on him. And it went viral. This little weed and it’s decorating benefactor inspired countless others to do the same. This street corner, when we arrived on the 23rd, was bedecked with a manger scene, cardboard signs, a giant purple Elmo, a candle, and lots of garland. There was even a crossing guard helping everyone stay safe! In fact, our kindly crossing guard needed to point out the Christmas weed to us! We couldn’t find it. He was buried under a tinsel garland with about 2” poking up through the top. LOL!
This little scraggly weed though – the love, goodwill, joy, it inspired. I’m sure when the people initially decorated this weed in the middle of a busy intersection, they had no idea what they were inspiring. People are bringing donations to the weed. I saw coats and nonperishable food. The outpouring was so great they were collecting the donations twice daily to take to local charities!! As people were driving by they were honking, with some shouting out, “Merry Christmas!”
There were visitors too. People taking time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to pilgrim to the weed (some bringing gifts.) In the five minutes or so we were there, we saw three or four groups of people, families and friends who were visiting the weed -- home for Christmas.
Hmm, I’m drawing some parallels between this nondescript, of seemingly insignificance weed and a little baby who was born in a stable. It was a busy time then too. There was a major event happening, a census was taking place. And, amid the hustle and bustle, an insignificant (to the rest of society) baby was born in a nondescript place. And then, like the weed, the birth of this baby went viral. Angels appeared to shepherds who hurried to see this baby. Then they, like me at the Christmas gathering, went and told everyone about this wondrous thing they had experienced!
I’m sure, there were many who then had to go and see this baby, this Messiah, about which the shepherds were raving. I mean, the anomaly alone would have drawn a crowd. Their long-awaited Messiah born in a barn? Sleeping in a feeding trough? Yeah, I must see this thing for myself!
We know the birth of Jesus began a pilgrimage for some astrologers from the East. We don’t know how many of them there were. Perhaps they gathered more people who too wanted to see the Christ child, as they journeyed. We know that these pilgrims brought gifts – gifts for a King of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
I am thankful for the Toledo Christmas weed. Glad I made the pilgrimage (all 5 miles of it and in a heated car) to see this dirty old weed that inspired and touched so many hearts. May we carry the love for others, the peace, the joy throughout the year. A taste of the first Christmas.
Who would have ever thought – a Christmas weed in Toledo reflecting and reminiscent of the birth of Jesus. May MY life shine for Jesus, not just now, but throughout the years!
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