Unimpressive but Meaningful
A Charlie Brown Christmas has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies. It’s a tradition I’ve held onto since I was young. Every time I watch it, I can’t help but feel a little sad for Charlie Brown. He’s such a good kid, yet somehow overlooked by his family and friends. Even his dog Snoopy (though wonderful) seems to make things a bit more complicated.
Throughout the movie, Charlie Brown is just trying to get it right. Whether he’s invited to Christmas events or asked to help with the play, his heart is in the right place. He simply wants to contribute something meaningful.
But when he shows up to direct the Christmas play, it’s clear no one really wants his help. I think most of us have felt that before: the sting of being unseen or feeling like what we bring doesn’t matter.
Then comes his last task: picking out a Christmas tree for the program. He walks through a forest of bright, colorful trees: pink ones, blue ones, even shiny tin ones. But Charlie doesn’t choose the biggest or most impressive tree. He picks the smallest, scrawniest tree in the field.
He’s so proud of that little tree and eager to share it. But when the others see it, they laugh and criticize. Instead of seeing its potential, they reject it; and, in a way, they reject him too.
That moment always reminds me of the nativity story. We tend to romanticize it, but when you really stop and think about it, it’s so simple—almost unimpressive. Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a small, dusty stable. A place meant for animals, not royalty. A space for the humble, the overlooked, and the ordinary.
Luke 1:52 says, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”
The birth of Jesus wasn’t grand or glamorous. It was quiet and lowly—yet filled with deep meaning. Just like Charlie Brown’s little tree, the beauty wasn’t in how it looked, but in what it represented. God has a way of taking what seems small, weak, or forgotten and filling it with divine purpose.
And when the kids finally come around…when they show kindness, decorate the tree, and look at it with love…they see it differently. The tree becomes something beautiful. When Charlie Brown returns and sees what it’s become, he’s amazed by how love transformed it.
The same is true of the nativity. A baby who seemed small and easily overlooked changed everything—for His family, His community, and the world. What feels insignificant to us often becomes the most impactful thing in God’s hands.
Reflection:
• How might you show love to someone around you this season?
• Who could you come alongside to encourage or remind them that they are seen and valued?
Sarah Linder
Sarah began her work in the church in 2010 and has been involved in a variety of ministry roles since then. She’s led children’s ministries, worked with youth, offered congregational care, led prayer retreats, and is a certified Spiritual Director. She earned her degree in Behavioral Science in 2014 and received her certification in Spiritual Direction in 2020.
Over the years, Sarah has served in churches across different denominations throughout the U.S., and she deeply values seeing the beauty of the Church expressed in many different ways through local congregations.
She lives in Marion, Indiana with her husband, Ethan Linder, and their three boys—Ezra, Isaiah, and Jack. Sarah loves coffee, hiking, and opening her home to neighbors and friends in her community.