No doubt, by now, most of you will have decorated your Christmas tree, or you will have seen those belonging to family and friends – but are you aware that many if not all, decorations, have a meaning?
The True Story of the Candy Cane
A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness,
so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols
for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of
pure white, hard candy: white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless
nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the Foundation of the
Church and firmness of the promises of God.
The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which He reaches 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 candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes 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 the Candy Cane. It became a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But meaning is still there for all those who “Have eyes to see and ears to hear.” We pray that this symbol will again be used to witness to the wonder of Jesus and His great love that came down at Christmas.
May you experience the full joy of Christmas – the hope and wonder of Emmanuel, God with Us!
Love and Blessings to you all for Christmas and the coming year.
Reverend Shan