As I sat in the quiet, dark room at my parents’ home in Florida, I could not keep my eyes off of the little Christmas tree in the corner.

Hailing from Goodwill, adorned with hand-me-down ornaments, a star and tree skirt from the Dollar Tree and colored retro lights, I have to say it is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen.

No, you won’t find it on the cover of Better Homes and Garden magazine or replicated at the Biltmore Estate. But it is so beautiful to me because it reminds me of my childhood.

I literally could not stop starring at the tree.

It’s only 3 feet tall but it reminds me so much of our trees growing up with the multi-colored lights and the simple ornaments. I didn’t want to go to bed as I didn’t want to lose this moment of just me and the tree and the childhood memories.

Simple.

That’s what I miss.

Simple.

Jesus came into the world in the dirtiest of places surrounded by slobbery animals but He was beautiful. Mary was beautiful. The star was beautiful. All was right with the world.

I love Christmas and I love decorating for Christmas. But today I am reminded that sometimes it truly is the simplest of things that bring back the simplest of memories that keep us in check for the simple ways of life.

We make life so complicated when it doesn’t have to be. A beautiful tree from a second-hand store. A beautiful baby in a second-hand manger.

A beautiful reminder.

Simple yet complete.

Don’t let the chaos of this world cause you to lose focus on the important things this Christmas season.