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“For it has been by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the results of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
I vividly remember one summer when I was young and visiting my grandfather’s land in Victor, New York — 27 acres of fields and rolling hills that he loved deeply. It was one of his favorite places to spend time when he wasn’t working or volunteering. That day, he took me on a walk to see the rows of tiny trees he had planted — little sticks in the ground, carefully spaced and tenderly cared for.
“What are all these trees for, Grandpa?” I asked.
He smiled and knelt beside one. “It’s going to be my Christmas tree farm,” he said. “One day, some will be thirty feet tall.”
Years later, his hope and dream came true. Our family would return each winter to choose our Christmas trees from those once-small saplings. We tied ribbons around our favorites, laughing and debating which was best. Those trips became a cherished tradition that marked the Advent season with joy and love.
When my grandfather passed away, the trees had grown just as he said—tall and strong. My grandmother kept the property, and now my sister and her family live there among those towering evergreens. Whenever I visit with my husband and kids, I’m reminded of the quiet faith and care that made them flourish. We go sledding down the big hill and sleep in tents beneath the stars, surrounded by the living legacy he planted with his hands and his heart.
My grandfather’s farm reminds me of the grace Paul describes in Ephesians. The tiny trees he nurtured were strengthened by time, patience, and faithful care—just as we are nurtured by God’s grace, growing into who He created us to be. Grace turns emptiness into abundance, and hope into life. What began as simple work in the soil became a lasting testament to love, peace, and renewal—the very gifts we celebrate each Advent season.
Gracious God, Thank you for the gift of Your grace that takes root quietly, grows patiently, and brings life where there once was none. May hope, peace, joy, and love take deep root in our hearts this Advent season. Amen.
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