The Legend of the Dogwood
When Christ was on Earth, the dogwood grew To a towering size with a lovely hue. Its branches were strong and interwoven, And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen. Being distressed at the use of the wood, Christ made a promise which still holds good: "Never again shall the dogwood grow To be large enough for a tree, and so,
Slender and twisted it shall always be, With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see. "The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown, And in the blossom's center a thorny crown. All who see it will think of me, Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree. Protected and cherished this tree shall be, A reflection to all of my agony." —Author Unknown
No one knows how that Christian legend came about. Experts say that dogwood trees are not native to Israel and that it's unlikely that wood from a dogwood was used in Christ's crucifix- ion. But, for many years Christians have gazed upon the dogwood's thin, twisted branches and upon the petals, which do appear to be
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bloodstained and seem to bloom around Easter time each year, and been reminded of Jesus' crucifixion. Perhaps the truth of the legend is irrelevant. Perhaps the beautiful dogwood serves the same purpose in Christian's lives, as a reminder of the greatest sacrifice and the greatest promise, nonetheless.
