The Legend of the Candy Cane A story is told about a candy maker who wanted to make a candy that would be a testimony of his Christian faith, so he made the Christmas candy cane. He fashioned it using several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy--white to remind us of the virgin birth and of the sinless nature of Jesus Christ, and hard to remind us of Jesus, the solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and of the firmness of God's promises. The candy maker made the candy in the shape of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. Turned upside down, it also represents 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 looked somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used small red stripes to remind us of the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. He used a large red stripe to remind us of the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, over the years, the candy cane has become just a tasty treat and a traditional Christmas decoration without any special significance. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear." May this simple piece of holiday candy serve as a reminder to us all of the true reason for celebrating at Christmas time: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Marilyn's Hideaway ~ Cancer Site ~ Children ~ Computers Critters ~ Domestic Violence ~ Good Old Days ~ Holidays Humor ~ Inspirationals ~ Katrina ~ Miscellaneous Patriotic ~ Poetry ~ Women ~ Norma Marek's Poetry