The whole family attended the Mass on Sundays and participated in holy processions throughout the year. One day before the Christmas time, father from the nearest church came to the girl’s mother and asked her, “Would you be so kind to make a blanket for the Baby Jesus. The one we have is pretty worn out.”
“That will be my pleasure” answered girl’s mother, who was known for fine weaving.
“That will be my pleasure” answered girl’s mother, who was known for fine weaving.
Following day both mother and the girl went to the market to purchase the best thread. At home, they died the thread in different colors. The girl was very proud to be helping with the blanket. “I’m helping my mom to weave a blanket for the Baby Jesus,” she would say to all the kids she knew.
Meanwhile everyone in the village was busy with preparation for Christmas. Mothers were cleaning the houses thoroughly and preparing variety of dishes. Fathers were decorating the church with Christmas ornaments.
Meanwhile everyone in the village was busy with preparation for Christmas. Mothers were cleaning the houses thoroughly and preparing variety of dishes. Fathers were decorating the church with Christmas ornaments.
The Christmas was just around the corner, when the girl’s mother got sick. She was so sick that she had to stay in bed. She couldn’t finish the blanket. The girl got very worried about her mom being sick and about disappointing the people from the village. So she decided to finish the blanket herself. “One down and one up,” the girl tried weaving, but unfortunately the thread got tangled. “One down and one up,” the more she tried the more tangled it became.
The girl got almost teary, when she realized that it was too hard to do it on her own. She went to her aunt and asked, “Aunty will you help me finish the blanket?”
“Oh, dear child,” said the aunt, “There is not enough time to fix it. Don’t worry. We will do another blanket for the next Christmas.” The girl was not satisfied and she was sad that she would disappoint the village people.
“Oh, dear child,” said the aunt, “There is not enough time to fix it. Don’t worry. We will do another blanket for the next Christmas.” The girl was not satisfied and she was sad that she would disappoint the village people.
All people from the village gathered at the church except the girl. She was hiding behind the walls of the adjacent building. “Dear child why aren't you with the others inside the church?” The girl turned around and saw an elderly lady. She explained what has just happened recently. “Don’t worry, your mother will be fine,” said the elderly lady. “And don’t worry about a gift. Any gift is meaningful. So whatever you decide to give to the Baby Jesus will be cherished by him.”
The girl looked around as looking for an idea, “But what else could I make?” The elderly lady was already gone, nowhere to be seen. The girl looked around her again and saw some tall grasses. She picked a handful of them and went to the church.
“Oh, what is she carrying? Some weeds,” whispers spread through the church. The girl ignored the whispers and put the tall grasses in front of the Baby Jesus. “Oh, look at these charming weeds,” heard the girl while praying. She raised her head and saw beautiful red flowers in a shape of a star blooming from each weed.
After the Mass, when people got outside, they were even more surprised. All tall grasses outside were flourishing with red stars. As the elderly lady said to the girl every gift is beautiful. The girl’s gift meant so much to her that it showed through the whole village by shining in red stars. Till today, every Christmas, the red stars called poinsettias decorate the whole village.
No comments:
Post a Comment