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The Pinecone
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December 2016
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f r om Don J oh n s on , K i r b y P i n e s Chap l a i n
Chaplain’s COrner
Legend says there
once was a poor
Mexican girl called
Pepita who had
no present to give
to the baby Jesus
at the Christmas
Eve Service in her
town’s small chapel.
Her cousin, Pedro,
saw her sadness and
said, “I’m sure that
even the smallest gift given by someone who loves him will
make Jesus happy.”
Pepita picked up a handful of weeds by the roadside as she made
her way to the chapel. She made a small bouquet of the weeds
and laid it at the foot of the chapel’s manger scene. Suddenly the
bouquet burst into bright red flowers. Everyone believed they
had just seen a miracle. The red flowers became known as the
“Flores de Noche Buena” (Flowers of the Holy Night.) They
have become a special part of our Christmas celebration.
A Special Christmas Tradition
But how did this special flower make its way from Central
America to us?
Joel Roberts Poinsett, son of a French physician, became
the first United States Ambassador to Mexico in 1825. In
1828 he became fascinated with a red bloom plant he found
in Mexico’s Taxco area. Poinsett sent samples back to his
South Carolina plantation, began to grow them and gave them
to friends and botanical gardens. In 1836, when he was
discovered as the man who brought this beautiful plant to
America, the plant was named after him as the “Poinsettia.”
How does the Poinsettia illustrate the true meaning of the
Christmas celebration? It’s been said the shape of the leaves
symbolize the Star of Bethlehem that led the Eastern Wise Men
on their trip to worship Jesus. The red leaves can stand for the
blood of Christ, Bethlehem’s child later crucified at Calvary.
The Poinsettia’s white leaves can illustrate Christ’s purity.
Our gifts, little or big, lovingly come from what’s special to us,
our treasures.
“And when they had come into the house they saw the young
Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
And when they had opened their treasures they presented gifts
to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
At this Christmastime let’s enjoy the special traditions that
make this time so great. Let’s allow all that is around us
to bring us back to the true meaning of Christmas. Let’s
remember the shadow of the Cross
over the manger. And
let’s bring our gift,
no matter how small,
to the One who
makes Christmas
unforgettable and
personal.
Till next time,
Don Johnson, KP Chaplain
December Vesper Services
•
6:30pm
•
Per forming Ar ts Center
December 29th
Amy Speake
Missionary forChrist theCity
International inCostaRica
December 8th
Dr. Leon Sanderson
White Station
Church of Christ
December 15th
Dr. Sam Brassell
Covenant
Baptist Church
December 22nd
Father Augustine
DeArmond
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
December 1st
Dr. Birgette French
Crossroads United
Methodist Church