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Friday, December 9, 2011

Legend of Christmas Poinsettia



Welcome. I am so happy that you stopped by. My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax with a hot drink. We are having unusually cold weather in Southern California and today I made you hot chocolate to warm you up while I share with y0u a beautiful experience that I had yesterday involving Poinsettias. First let's join Bentley, my Studio Assistant, in the garden and he will show you our Poinsettias.











I volunteer at my church to take care of the flowers that people leave at the little stone grotto with a statue of Mary( the Mother of Jesus) outside our Catholic church. I arrange and straighten up flowers that are left. It is a simple and joyful task. Yesterday, December 8th, was a special day honoring Mary . I previously read a little notice on the church bulletin board that suggested ways to celebrate Advent - such as helping the poor and decorating your home with lights and Poinsettia. It said that legend has it that a poor child in Mexico having nothing to give the Christ Child on his birthday gathered some weeds into a lovely bouquet, the only gift she had to offer. When she brought her gift to the manger the simple weeds were transformed into a brilliant red bloom - the Poinsettia - now known as "The Flower of the Holy Night".

I loved the legend and decided to take Poinsettia's to decorate the grotto to go along side of the flowers that others had placed there. As I was placing my Poinsettias, a woman came up carrying a branch of pine greenery. She appeared to be very poor and said that she had never seen the grotto look so beautiful as it did with the red Poinsettias . She said that she had no money to buy beautiful flowers and felt that her pine branch was not worthy to be placed by the beautiful flowers. I assured her that the pine branch was lovely and would be the perfect compliment to the red flowers. I asked her if I could arrange the branches for her and she reluctantly gave me the branch and stood in the background. I broke off the green pine from the branch and placed the greenery among the Poinsettias along with pine cones that another person left. It was amazing how much beauty the greenery added to the flowers. I looked at the lady and she was smiling - we both hugged each other and I said - "look at how beautiful the flowers look with the addition of your pine branch" and she said "yes - together we made something beautiful". I could not help but thinking about the Legend of the Poinsettia .


"They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share." Timothy 6:18


Thank you for stopping by. I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those of you who follow my blog. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see me paint something special.
Have a lovely week. Blessings, Erin

10 comments:

Terra said...

The last few photos show a work that you and the lady with her pine boughs helped create, and that is truly beautiful. I have a Mary statue in my garden, and love the statue you show here.

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful story Erin, very like your generous heart.

Thank you to share with us and to remind us that a small gift given with heart is as valuable as a rich one.

Blessings

Balisha said...

My husband built a Grotto for our Church last year. One of my blogs is dedicated to the building of it. It's a place where people come to meditate, pray or just relax. It is so pretty lit up at night. I also help with the care of our Mary's garden and help with decorations inside the Church too.
Your pictures are beautiful...I love to see your paintings. I paint too. Have a Merry Christmas and thankyou for your wonderful blog. Balisha

GardenOfDaisies said...

Beautiful! It all looks so lovely together, when everyone shares what they can. And I do love the legend of the poinsettia. I bought that story a few years ago to put in our children's Library at church.

Susan Freeman said...

The poinsettias are beautiful Erin. I loved the story and will keep it in my heart all Christmas.

Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Irene said...

The grotto looks beautiful, but what is most beautiful is people sharing what little they have to benefit others.

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh wow, I LOVE your gorgeous blog!!! and I adore the story about the poinsettias...My house is decorated with all poinsettia inside and out, so now I am even more excited after reading this story!

Your blog is so JOY-filled--Happy Holidays to you and your family.
XO
Cindy

Lady Jane said...

What a beautiful story to carry you through Christmas. The grotto is beautiful and such a lovely statue of our Blessed Mother. Thanks for sharing. Hugs and have a wonderful Merry Christmas. LJ
PS. I see Bentley is all trimmed up for Christmas. Merry Christmas Bentley...

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

HI MY SWEET FRIEND HOW ARE YOU I KNOW IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME IAM HERE NOW.I HAVE BEEN THIKING OF YOU I DONT BLOG TO MUCH TO MUCH TIME IN BED.I LOVE EVERY THING I YOUR POST SO COLORFUL VIRGEN MARY IS BEAUTIFUL,LOVE TO SEE ALL YOUR PAINTINGS ERIN.HAVE A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS LETS CELEBRATE JESUS....MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND BENTLY.A BIG JUG FOR YOU MY FRIEND !!!!

Vicki Boster said...

Erin- this is the most touching story and is truly represents the spirit if Christmas. God had a purpose for you that day- he meant for you to be there to accept the lady's meager gift-/ bless you for being so kind to her.

The poinsettia photos are beautiful-- thank you for sharing these pictures and that wonderful story.
Vicki