Advent Day 8

I will put the cedar in the wilderness,
The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree;
I will place the juniper in the desert
Together with the box tree and the cypress,
That they may see and recognize,
And consider and gain insight as well,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
And the Holy One of Israel has created it.
~Isaiah 41:19

Pinecone

Reading: There once was a poor family with no food or wood for the fire. The mother went into the woods to gather pinecones to sell for food and wood. When she picked up one, an elf woman said, "Why are you taking my pinecones?" The woman told her the story and the elf told her to go to the next forest and that she would find much better pinecones. When she got there, pinecones began falling to the ground. She brought them home and when she looked at them every pinecone had turned into silver. So to this day always keep a pinecone on your hearth for the legend has it, that it will bring good fortune your way.

The pine cone, as with many Christian symbols particularly those used in Christmas decorations and traditions, is rooted in pagan symbolism also. It is a common symbol found in cemeteries and some say that the pine cone symbolizes everlasting life being the seed source of the evergreen. One of the most known pine cones in Christendom is the Court of the Pigna or Court of the Pine in the courtyard of the Vatican Museum and there is one also on one of the papal staffs!

Regardless of whether one tends to view the pine come symbol as pagan or Christian is not really as important as recognizing the Creator of it.

~ My Lord, may we always remember that all symbols copied from nature are simply coopies of your original works. Guide us so that we are careful to use them to remind us of You. ~