Candy Canes at Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Have you heard the legend about how the candy cane came into existence? A couple of years ago a friend shared this poem. It appears to have originated in Germany, which my grandfather was from there.
This “sweet” thought I leave with you. It’s created new meaning for me about the candy cane. As you can see above, each year we hang them on our Christmas tree. They aren’t the edible kind but they have gone the distance in time.
Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time
that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith.
He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry
and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy;
white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus;
hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church;
firmness to represent the promise of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J”
to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.
He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd,
With which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out
the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker
stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes
to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received,
by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the
blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the
promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known
as a candy cane ~ a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.
But the true meaning is still there for those who have
eyes to see and ears to hear.
~ Author Unknown
If you’d like to read more about the history and creation of the candy cane, click here.
May you and those you love be blessed this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus. It’s the reason and the meaning for this season. As we celebrate, if we choose to see them, there are abundant joys and blessings. My hope and prayer, in spite of your challenges, is for you to see the gifts in front of you. They are there; we always find what we search for.
This year 2020 hasn’t been what any of us expected. Most of us are ready for a new season. If you have prayer requests or final thoughts as this year comes to a close, please do leave them below.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we roll into 2021!
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ”