Daily Wisdom 12-17-2001 The Legend of the Poinsettia

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The Legend of the Poinsettia

Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first US Ambassador to Mexico appointed byPresident Andrew Jacksonin the 1820's. During his stay in Mexico, hewandered into the countryside looking for a new plant species. In 1828 hediscovered a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to aroad. He took cuttings and brought them to his greenhouse in SouthCarolina. You can guess that it was Joel Roberts Poinsett who brought thepoinsettia to North America, creating a billion dollar industry. Later,the botanical name, Euphorbia Pulcherrima, was given to the poinsettia bythe German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in hisgreenhouse. Dazzled by it's color, he gave it the botanical name,Euphorbia Pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful." And it is in late Octoberwhen the greenhouse poinsettia changes the color of it's top leaves whilethe sunshine diminishes to 8 hour days.

The legend story of the poinsettia is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girlwho had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services.Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin, Pedro, her heartfilled with sadness rather than joy.

"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, willbe acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered ahandful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking atthe scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed thanever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as sheentered the small village chapel.

As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even themost humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." Shefelt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of thenativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and allwho saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle. Fromthat day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de NocheBuena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during theChristmas season. Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!

Pepita, our poor Mexican friend, felt very humble as she gave her scragglybouquet of weeds to the Christ Child. Yet, she gave it in love. That verybeautiful gift, Euphorbia Pulcherrima, became a poinsettia. In the sameway, the gift of our lives to the Christ Child this Christmas can become ameaningful and beautiful display of flowers; God uses our new lives in Himas we begin to serve our Savior and Lord. Just as a flower can growthrough some crack in a greenhouse, we can be transformed into an amazingcolor of light in the darkness if we accept Him (Romans 12:2).