Every year, I look forward to the moment the Christmas tree lights flicker on in our living room. But this year, I didn’t see our tree first.
Instead, I watched a moment unfold two hours away—at my granddaughter Olivia’s house—when her mama, Crystal, captured a video of Livie discovering their tree and shared it in our family group chat.
The moment she spotted it, her whole body leaned forward with wonder.
Wide eyes. Open mouth. Slow, deliberate steps toward the glowing branches as if the tree itself was calling her name.
And then, of course…
The reach.
Crystal told her gently, “You can look, but don’t touch.”
That’s all it took for a tiny storm to roll across her sweet face.
A deep grunt.
A frustrated squeal.
A little foot stomp.
She toddled away for a moment—just long enough to pretend she was done—then circled right back again.
Her eyes lifted to the sparkle. Her fingers twitched.
And the cycle began again: desire → resistance → tiny rebellion → gentle reminder.
When she finally grabbed an ornament, Crystal immediately walked with her—hand over hand—back to the tree to return it.
It wasn’t punishment.
It was guidance.
It was patience.
It was teaching.
Something about that moment caused me to pause and ponder. Because watching her, I didn’t see just a toddler learning boundaries.
I saw myself.
And like Eve in the Garden, I saw every one of us who feels drawn toward things that glitter beautifully… yet lead us away from God’s heart.
Lesson 1: The Forbidden Thing Always Looks the Shiniest
It’s remarkable how many toys Olivia has.
How many safe, fun, perfectly allowed things she can hold and enjoy.
But the one thing she couldn’t have suddenly became the thing she had to have.
Somewhere deep in that tiny heart, the sin nature was already whispering the same lie Eve heard in Eden:
“This one thing is what will satisfy you.”
The longer Livie stared at the tree, the stronger the pull became.
Isn’t that true for us?
The more attention we give to temptation — the more we justify it, circle around it, admire it, imagine it — the louder it sings.
We rarely fall all at once.
We fall one lingering glance at a time.
Lesson 2: God’s Boundaries Flow from Love, Not Cruelty
There was such tenderness in how Crystal handled the moment.
She didn’t yell.
She didn’t shame.
She didn’t swat her hand.
She simply stayed close, consistent, and kind.
“Look but don’t touch.”
When Livie grabbed an ornament anyway, Crystal walked with her to gently put it back.
In that simple scene, I got a fresh glimpse of God’s Father-heart.
We often imagine His “no” as harsh—limiting, frustrating, even confusing.
But His boundaries are protection, not punishment.
They are the guardrails of love.
That tree was meant to be beautiful.
To bring joy.
To celebrate Jesus’ birth.
The boundary wasn’t about withholding good—it was about safeguarding it.
And God does the same with us.
Lesson 3: We Cannot Resist Temptation Alone
My granddaughter didn’t have the strength to resist the tree.
She’s only one year old.
The desire was bigger than her willpower.
In that moment, I sensed the Lord whisper to my heart:
“You’re no different, Jenny—except you have My Spirit helping you.”
We can’t resist on our own.
We weren’t meant to.
Just like Olivia needed her mama’s presence, consistency, and hand-over-hand guidance, we need our Father’s.
We need His Spirit nudging us away from danger.
We need His truth drawing us back from what glitters but cannot satisfy.
We need His mercy when we circle back again… and again… and again.
A Question for Your Heart This Christmas
As we enter this season with all its sparkle and noise, I find myself asking:
“What’s my Christmas tree?”
What is that one thing that keeps pulling my attention—tempting me to reach for it, even though it isn’t God’s best for me?
Maybe it’s comparison.
Maybe it’s control.
Maybe it’s worry, people-pleasing, resentment, or overwork.
Maybe it’s something no one else would ever guess.
But here’s the invitation:
Don’t just stare at it.
Don’t circle it over and over.
Don’t try to fight it alone.
Turn toward the One who loves you enough to set boundaries.
Turn toward the One who stays close, consistent, and kind.
Turn toward the One who guides your hands back to where they belong.
He isn’t withholding good from you.
He is protecting the good in you.
This moment with Olivia reminded me of how often God uses family milestones to teach me. Back in April 2023, after Caleb and Crystal’s wedding, I shared a post called Lessons From Our Son’s Wedding — a glimpse into the things God was shaping in my heart during that season. And now, as a Grammie, He’s still teaching me—through tiny hands, bright eyes, and moments just like this.
👉 Read that earlier reflection here:
https://jennyleavitt.com/2023/05/lessons-from-our-sons-wedding/
A Prayer for the Season
Father, thank You for loving me enough to say “no” when my heart reaches for what cannot hold me.
Teach me to trust Your boundaries, to listen for Your gentle guidance, and to turn toward You instead of circling the things that glitter.
Help me recognize temptation quickly and give me the strength to walk away—not in my own power, but in Yours.
Protect my heart this Christmas season, and keep my eyes fixed on what is truly good.
Amen.
