Symbols of Christmas

Tonight Ry had his Christmas Choir concert. He sang really well and I can tell that he really likes choir. His teacher talks about his voice all the time. He has been singing parts of the songs for a few weeks but I had not heard all of them before. It was a great way to usher in the season.

We came home and had our short devotional - The Symbols of Christmas.

*The star - symbolizes the Light of Christ, ever reaching to all men, pointing the way to eternal salvation.

*The Tree - symbolizes the Tree of Life, eternal life. The needles point heavenward.

*Red: symbolizes the Atonement of Christ & his life blood shed.

*The Bell: rings out to guide us back to the fold - signifying that all are prec ious in the eyes of the Lord.

*The Candle: a mirror of the star of Bethlehem, reminds us to look to the light of Christ to find our way.

*Gift Bow: reminds us that we too should have our hearts "knit together in unity and love."

*Candy Cane: The shepherd's crook used to bring lambs back into the fold. A reminder that we are all our brother's keeper.

* The Wreath: symbolizes life eternal, with no beginning nor end.

We read the story "The Candymaker's Witness" ~

A Candy Maker's WitnessA candymaker 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 the firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker 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 candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the strips of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross, so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

We sang Silent Night and then read the following poem:

No Greater Light

by Suzanne Dean

There was no family doctor,

There was no midwife there

Just a loving husband,

A donkey, and a mare.

There was no bed with linens,

And no comfort for this wife;

No help at all was given

For the bringing forth of life.

But, in the quiet hours

As her time was growing nigh,

She met the pain of labor

With faith in God on high.

And, soon fulfilled the promise

That a Savior would be born

Within a lowly stable

Before the break of morn.

The Savior breathed the breath

Of life, and it all began,

For here was born the Prince of Peace

At last, the Son of Man.

There was no special clothing,

Nor cradle for the king;

Swaddling clothes to wrap him in

Was all that they could bring.

Yet, here within the stable

As the animals watched on,

The light of God shone all around

And warmed them until dawn.

The legionnaires of Caesar

That occupied the inn

Had no idea how very near

The miracle they'd been.

That night there were a very few

Who really understood--

Just those who prayed for answers,

Whose hearts were kind and good.

They knew he would be coming

To bring light to the earth,

And long had watched to see the star

That signified his birth.

And high above the stable

It shone as if to say

The world would long remember

This morn as Christ-mas day.

And even though there were so few

To celebrate that night,

There's been no sweeter miracle

There's been no greater light!

We ended the evening with Away in a Manger and family prayer. It was a good evening, full of memories and meaning. I hope that each of you are having a joyous, relaxing Christmas season.

Love, J