The Legend of the Poinsettia...

Maria and Pablo lived in
a tiny village in Mexico.
Because Christmastime at their house did not include
many gifts, Maria and Pablo looked forward to the Christmas festivities at the
village church with great joy and anticipation.

                  

To honor the birth of Christ, the church
displayed a beautiful manger that drew crowds of admirers. Villagers walked miles
to admire the manger, bringing lovely, expensive gifts for the Baby Jesus. As
Maria and Pablo watched the villagers place their gifts in the soft hay around
the manger, they felt sad. They had no money to buy gifts for their family and
no money to buy a gift for the Baby Jesus.



One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo walked to the
church for that evening's services, wishing desperately that they had a gift to
bring. Just then, a soft glowing light shone through the darkness, and the
shadowy outline of an angel appeared above them.



Maria and Pablo were afraid, but the angel
comforted them, instructing them to pick some of the short green weeds that
were growing by the road. They should bring the plants to the church, the angel
explained, and place them near the manger as their gift to the Baby Jesus. Then
just as quickly as she had appeared, the angel was gone, leaving Maria and
Pablo on the road looking up into the dark sky. Confused but excited, the
children filled their arms with large bunches of the green weeds and hurried to
the church.



When the children entered the church, many of the
villagers turned to stare. As Maria and Pablo began placing the weeds around
the manger, some of the villagers laughed at them. "Why are those children
putting weeds by the manger?" they asked each other. Maria and Pablo began
to feel embarrassed and ashamed of their gift to the Baby Jesus, but they stood
bravely near the manger, placing the plants on the soft hay, as the angel had
instructed.



Suddenly, the dull green leaves on the tops of the
plants began to turn a beautiful shade of red, surrounding the Baby with
beautiful blooms. The laughing villagers became silent as they watched the
green plants transform into the lovely star-shaped crimson flowers we call
poinsettias. As they watched the weeds bloom before their eyes, Maria and Pablo
knew they had no reason to be ashamed anymore. They had given the Baby Jesus
the only gift they could--and it was the most beautiful gift of all.



Today, poinsettias are a traditional symbol of
Christmas, thanks to young Maria and Pablo and their special gifts to the Baby
Jesus.

Rows upon rows of pink poinsettias.

Now don't push girls I believe there

will be one for all of us. Can you believe

it, pink poinsettia's just for us pinkies?

How thoughtful of the nursery. Oh my gosh,

let's see, oh that one. No maybe that one.

Oh gosh, I don't know. Maybe that one way

over there. Here it is just the one. Next...

SO many shades of pink too.

See the tiny centers, and look

at all the veins in the leaves. A

story to tell about each I'm sure.

So many pink styles. Just look at the 

edges and mixture of colors on these.

Looks like someone took their pinking

shears and went to work. What do you

think pinkies? Are one of you the culprit?

Just the right pink touch for a table.

Look how elegant they look.

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer,

and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid,

on Donder and Blitzen. Oh now

where has that Rudolph gone?

And in one mall, just look at the beautiful

display they made. A tree of poinsettias.

Pink poinsettias are so beautiful in the

assorted shades. Oh Christmas tree,

Oh Christmas tree... How beautiful.

Every home should have at least one pot.

Pink of course, or maybe two? They look

so elegant in a pot, just brighten any corner.

After reading the legend of the poinsettia,
how could we not have one in our home?
Have you bought yours yet?
I am going out tomorrow. 

I hope you have enjoyed my pink post today.

I am linking up for Pink Saturday.

Hosted by
Ms Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound.

Please pop over and see the other pinkies on the

McLinky and visit one, or two or three. They will

bless your heart. Thank you for hosting Ms Beverly.

You are the hostess with the mostess.

As always, thank you for stopping by,

my little piece of heaven,

here in the desert, 

that I so love to call home.

Country hugs and much love,