The Story of the Candy Cane
There once was a candy maker who wanted to make a candy that would be very special for Christmas. He decided to make a candy cane because he knew he could include a lot of signs and symbols to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. He used white as a symbol that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary who was always so pure and holy. He made it hard and crunchy to symbolize the solid rock on which the church is founded.
He bent over the top of the candy cane to make a hook like a shepherd’s staff. He remembered that Jesus called himself “The Good Shepherd” The candy maker remembered too that the first people who come to worship Jesus at the manger after he was born were shepherds. Then the candy maker looked at his candy cane and thought it looked a little plain. “It needs some color,” he said. Something red,” he thought. “That will give it Christmas look!” So, he began to stain the white candy cane with red stripes. First, he put on three thin red stripes. You see, he remembered that Jesus went through terrible torture before he died and was whipped across his back. The candy maker decided that the red stripes on the candy cane would remind everybody that Jesus shed his blood for us when he died on the cross.
The candy maker was doing well with his candy cane. He had a lot signs of Jesus in there but he wasn’t satisfied. Then he began to pray, “Dear Jesus, help me to make my candy cane show the true meaning of Christmas.” Then suddenly the candy cane slipped from his hands. It fell upside down on the floor. When he looked, he noticed that the candy cane was no longer a candy cane, but it was the letter “J”. It stands for “Jesus.” Jesus is really what Christmas is all about. Jesus is the reason for the season.
Howdy folks. I just found a great gathering of folks who want to encourage kids in the Lord and there are heaps of coloring pages and all sorts of inspirational activities and lessons there too. Here's a sample of a coloring page.
Isn't it lovely! And please take note of the wonderful site I was telling you about.
It's called www.ministry-to-children.com
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On another note, keep Soul Shaping Publications in your prayers. We are about to come out with a whole new line of tools to encourage my almost favorite folks--teens and 'tweens. Ooooh wee!!!!!!!!!!
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Have you ever thought about simple ways to encourage green living in your home? Many of us have been blessed by the ministry of RBC Ministries devotional called, Our Daily Bread. Well, while visiting their website I happened upon a tab called Wonder Kids and found all kinds of goodies that will teach our children to be good stewards of the planet plus restore the joys and pleasure of playing outside. I remember when...
Be sure to click on the link below.
Excerpt from Wonder Kids
http://wonderofcreation.org/wonder-kids-1/
Ways parents, grandparents and other caregivers can increase a child’s wonder in God’s handiwork
A Green Hour is time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. In 2007, the National Wildlife Federation launched GreenHour.org, an online resource providing parents the inspiration and tools to make the outdoors a part of daily life. NWF recommends that parents give their kids a “Green Hour” every day. This can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play. Scientific research shows kids are happier and healthier when outdoor time is in better balance with indoor time.
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