Narcissus, Christmas Devotional, Narcissus, Romans 12:10, Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas | Debbie Taylor Williams

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” Romans 12:10

This month we’ve been preparing our hearts for Christmas by considering how the decorations and plants we use can point us to Christ. I’ve shared how many of the traditions I’ve brought into our home are those I got from my mother. However, when Keith and I married, my mother-in-law introduced me to the narcissus, which has a tall slender stalk and small paper-white blossoms in contrast to the thick-stalked amaryllis with its giant red blossoms my mother adored.

Incorporating the narcissus into our traditions was a reminder of how Christmas is a time to value what other family members bring into our lives. I am grateful for not only the fragrance of my mother’s life, but also for that of my mother-in-law’s. So if you enjoy decorating with a narcissus, consider how it points us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. First, as the narcissus is white, we are reminded that Christ has cleansed us of our sins and made us pure white as He is. What a glorious thought! Second, as the narcissus has a distinct fragrance, we are to be distinct among the world, carrying the unique fragrance of Christ to others. Third, as we consider the fragile blossoms of the narcissus and its unique differences from the amaryllis, let’s remember that God has made each person unique and that relationships can be fragile. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, may we value the gift of not only our relationship with Christ, but also the gift of our relationships with others. May we remember Christ’s words to us to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; to give preference to one another in honor,” Romans 12:10.