EasterLegends

The Easter Legend of the Dogwood

At the time of Christ's crucifixion the dogwood tree was
as tall as the oak and other forest trees. Its wood was
so strong and firm that it was chosen for the cross.

The tree was very upset to be used for such a purpose
and Jesus understood. He told the tree, "Because of
your sorrow and pity for my sufferings, I promise this:
never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to
be used for a cross. Henceforth it will grow slender,
bent, and twisted.

Bright red fruit will represent the blood of Christ,
and dogwood blossoms will be in the form of a cross:
two long petals, and two short petals. In the center of
the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints,
brown with rust. And in the center of the flower will
be a crown of thorns – as a reminder of my death
upon the cross."

The Legend of the First Robin

One day, long ago, a little bird in Galilee saw a large crowd
gathered around a Man carrying a heavy wooden cross. On
the Man's head was a crown made from a thorn branch.

The thorns were long a sharp. The little bird saw that the
thorns were hurting the Man. It wanted to help Him, so
it flew down and took the longest, sharpest thorn in
its tiny beak.

The bird tugged and pulled until the thorn snapped
from the branch. Then a strange thing happened. A drop
of blood fell onto the bird's breast, staining it bright red.

The stain never went away. And so today the robin proudly
wears a red breast, because it helped a Man named Jesus.

The Three Little Trees
By: Angie Hunt

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and
dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew
up. The first little tree looked at the stars and said,
"I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold
and filled with precious stones. I will be the most
beautiful treasure chest in the world !"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream
trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be
traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings.
I'll be the strongest ship in the world !"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below
where busy men and women worked in the busy town.
"I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to
grow so tall that when people look at me, they'll raise
their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the
tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone and
the three little trees grew tall.

One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said,
"This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a
swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I
shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold
wonderful treasure," the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and
said, "This tree is strong, it is perfect for me."
With a swoop of his shining axe the second tree fell.
"Now I shall sail mighty waters," thought the second
tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kinds !

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last
woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and
tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter
never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me,"
he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe the
third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought
her to a carpenters shop, but the carpenter fashioned
her into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree
was not covered with gold nor with treasure. She
was coated in sawdust and filled with hay for
hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her
to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made
that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered
and saved into a simple fishing boat. She was too small
and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river,
instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut
her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
"What happened, " the once tall tree wondered ? "
All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top
and point to God."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees
nearly forgot their dreams. But one night golden starlight
poured over the first tree as a woman and her husband
whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled
as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood.
"This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly
the first tree knew that he was holding the greatest treasure
in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into
the old fishing boat The traveler fell asleep as the second
tree sailed quietly out into the lake. Soon a thundering and
thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered, she knew
she didn't have the strength to carry so many passengers
safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man
awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said,
"Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew that he was
carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her
beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She
flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering
crowd. She shuddered when soldieries nailed a
man's hands to her. She felt ugly harsh and cruel.

But, on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the
earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew
that God's love had changed everything. It had made
the third tree strong. And every time people thought of
the third tree, they would think of God. That was betterthan
being the tallest tree in the world.

So the next time you feel down because you didn't get
what you wanted, just sit tight and be happy because
God is thinking of something better to give you.