December 12: The Legend of the Candy Cane

*Today's gift is a candy cane. I usually wrap a whole box...because it's the easiest way to wrap them!

• Read Isaiah 53:5 (NKJ).

"But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed."

• Let the children open the candy canes.

• Talk about candy canes and wonder aloud why we only see them at Christmas.

• Share this legend:

There was once a candy maker who wanted to create a piece of candy that told the story of Jesus. He began by using hard candy to represent Jesus as the "rock of ages." He then shaped the hard candy into a shepherd's crook to symbolize Jesus as the "great shepherd." The candy-maker started with the color white to represent the purity and blamelessness of Christ. He added a red stripe to represent the blood shed on the cross for our sins...a perfect sacrifice.

• Use the candy canes as a treat, or hang them on the Christmas tree for decoration.

• Pray with your family. Thank God for candy canes and how they can remind us about Jesus.