ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER¹

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and it’s Friday. According to the current calendar, this is the time folks generally do their Christmas shopping in hopes of getting the most bang for their buck. It’s also time for some to put up the traditional Christmas tree. I recall bundling up our entire family and going to a tree farm to cut a fresh tree ourselves – not only for the money we’d save, but the family time spent together. That adventure usually ended with the perfect tree, which artist, Paul, would search for diligently. Time ticked away and so did our patience. Our great outdoorsman would measure, hold up his thumb to get the perfect perspective and lift his axe to start the process. By now, our fearless woodsy guy had icicles hanging from his beard and eyebrows. The children were red faced and waddled about the best they could in all their winter wear. Me – well, let’s just say I went along for the ride and the family time. Being almost December, we would have a fresh Christmas tree that would most likely shed its needles in the middle of the month, but we cut it ourselves – the old fashioned way.

Memories of my own childhood reminded me of my dad’s version of cutting down the tree. He would wait until the day before Christmas and get the last tree on the lot for the best price ever. My sister and I would fill all the empty spots with tinsel and ornaments as dad sat in his chair, directing the entire process. The painting today is a look at a perfect Christmas Tree, without all the trimmings. Fridays might be “black” to some, but the Friday I’m reminded of is called “Good” Friday. On that day, our Savior, Jesus, was nailed to a tree. He suffered and died there so that the entire world would gain eternal life. That’s why we call it “Good” Friday.

I will not venture out on this Black Friday. I tried it once and that was enough. I went to buy a new bed for our dog which was only $7.00. I bought the bed and spent more than a hundred dollars on other things after waiting for over an hour in line, chatting with other customers. People were chattier back then.

So, even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I continue to be thankful. I thank God for Fridays and the significance of that day. My Savior took on human flesh and was born into poverty. The Son of God – Emanuel – came to earth to conquer death and to make every day special.