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Candy Cane

"May we each have a candy cane?" begged Josh as he looked at the Christmas tree decorated with several kinds of candies, including striped candy canes.

"Yeah, may we? Please?" echoed his sisters, Adriane and Nicole.

Mom smiled. "All right," she said, "but as you eat them, I want you to think of a way in which they can remind you of the reason we celebrate Christmas."

Each of the kids quickly selected a red and white striped candy cane from the tree. They sat down, unwrapped the candy, and began to eat. For a few minutes, no one spoke. Then Nicole held her candy at arm's length and stared at it. "I don't really see what candy canes have to do with Christmas," she said, "except that it's the time of year when you always see lots of them." She frowned. "Or maybe it's because there's red on them-Christmas colors are red and green."

"Nah. That's not a good enough reason," said Josh. He stared at his candy cane, too. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "Part of our Sunday school verse last week said, 'By His stripes we are healed,' so the stripes can remind us of how they whipped Jesus."

"That's part of the Easter story," said Adriane. "It doesn't have anything to do with Christmas, does it?"

"Oh, indeed it does," said Mom who had been listening. "It has to do with the reason Jesus came to earth. He came to suffer and die and take the punishment for our sins. He came to be the Savior of anyone who believes in Him and trusts in Him."

Nicole looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Then the red stripe on the candy cane can stand for the blood Jesus shed for us when He died on the cross, can't it?" she asked.

"And the white can stand for having our sins washed away when we trust Jesus as Savior," suggested Adriane.

Josh nodded. "And look," he said, holding his candy cane upside down. "When you hold it this way, it's a 'J'-a 'J' for Josh." He grinned as his sisters started to protest. "Just kidding," he said. "It's a 'J' for Jesus."

"Excellent thinking," said Mom. "I have a booklet that tells the story of the candy cane and what it stands for. It includes some of the same things you mentioned. I hope the red and white canes will always help you remember those things-not only at Christmas time, but all year long."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get excited about Christmas candy and presents? That's okay, but be sure you don't forget the real reason for celebrating Christmas. On this special day, be sure to truly celebrate the fact that Jesus was born for a special reason-to save you from your sin. He lived a perfect life and died on the cross to do that. Accept the wonderful gift Jesus offers you-the gift of salvation. (See the ABCs at the end of this book.)

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15
Keys For Kids Devotion