A  CANDYMAKER'S  WITNESS


A 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 reached down into the ditches of
the world to  life out the fallen lambs who, like all the 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 stripes 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.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as the candy cane-a meaningless
decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those
who have eyes to see and ears to hear. I pray that this symbol will again be
used to witness TO THE WONDER OF JESUS AND HIS GREAT LOVE that came down at
Christmas and remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.


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May the reason for this season

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Flow in our hearts not only today


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But throughout the year!!!!
Have a Blessed and Safe Holiday!!!


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Consuelo  G.  Mitra
AIGM-Systems Department