LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA

December 12 was National Poinsettia Day, so let's continue our celebration with a heartwarming legend regarding this traditional Christmas plant. 

During the weeks before Christmas, a young Mexican girl named Miranda had worked hard with her mother to weave a beautiful blanket.  She and her parents planned to bring it to the church on Christmas Eve when everyone came forward to present a gift to the baby Jesus lying in the manger. 

Shortly before Christmas, her mother became sick and when Miranda tried to weave the blanket on her own, the yarns became hopelessly tangled.  She couldn't finish it. 

When Miranda and her father went to church that Christmas Eve, she was sad they had no gift to bring to the manger.  Neither the candles nor the singing could cheer her.  Then an angel comforted her, saying, "Your mother will get well, and you should bring to the Lord any gift you can find.  It's the giving, not the gift, that matters." 

Miranda went outside, picked some weeds from the roadside, and brought them to the manger.  There was a sudden stir among the people.  When Miranda looked at the weeds in her hand, they had become bright red flowers, each like a flaming red star. 

When the people went home that night, the roadside weeds had all become bright red flowers -- the Flor de la Navidad (the Christmas Flower). 

TAGS: Reflection 


SOURCE: The Little Blue Book: Advent and Christmas Seasons 2019-2020, 12/19/2019.