Category: Story

The Candy Cane Story As Told By A Rebel

The story is titled: Making Candy Canes

Just a disclaimer, this post is based on the Story of The Candy Cane and its meaning, which is Christian based. No offense intended. Whether you are a religious person or not, be it Christian or other, I hope that you can still appreciate the work. There is also a bonus surprise for anyone to enjoy at the end. This is based on stories you can find online, but I have told it in my own way, with some fresh ideas on how I could imagine the story going. Purely fictional but for entertainment purposes. If you know of a story you would like to challenge me with putting my own twist on, leave a comment. I’ll pick one and give it a shot. So, please enjoy, and may you always be blessed with health and love.

–Rebel

PS. I made this wreath with my own hands, using items purchased at a dollar store. Total cost was $5.

Making Candy Canes

‘Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems. In a place that perhaps you have seen in your dreams. For the story you’re about to be told, began with the holiday worlds of old…

—Tim Burton’s, The Nightmare Before Christmas

…

              Once upon a time, long before X-mas took out Christ, there lived a Candy Maker who loved God very much. It just so happened that this candy maker was tasked with creating something incredibly special; a small but sweet, and inexpensive gift that anyone could present to their loved ones on Christmas morning. So, the Candy Maker came up with an idea, to create a candy that represented what Christmas was truly about…Christ. Thus, the Candy Cane was born. But, that is, exactly, what our story tells. This is where our story begins…

              Just 2 months before Christmas and all the town, looked to this man, his name now unknown, to make a special treat for everyone. This man was old and often tired so, but he had something special in his heart…God. After being tasked with making a treat for Christmas, he started, one night, by choosing the flavor and decided it should taste of hyssop. Little fact is that hyssop comes from the mint family and is remarkably similar to peppermint; thus, to mimic the flavor of hyssop, that is exactly what he used, peppermint. Why Hyssop? Hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice in the times of the Old Testament, which is what we strive for in life, that we may earn a place in heaven. The rest did not come easy. He just had to get everything right.

              Over the course of weeks, his idea grew. “It should be made of hard candy, because Christ is our rock,” he thought, “…and, it should be red and white, to represent God’s purity and sacrifice.” This made him think of the immense love God has for us, that he would send his only son to suffer and die for us, that we may be forgiven for our sins and find ourselves in the kingdom of heaven. That is when he came up with the idea to shape the candy into a J, which was perfect. Not only did the J represent Jesus by name, but if one turned it around, they would find the symbol of the Shepherd, the staff. This represents Christ as our Shepherd, leading us home and watching over us (that we do not wander and become lost). It also tells us that we are his sheep, and together, his flock (that we may follow Christ as we were meant to).

              As he began to draw up the design for this candy that would make history, he felt that representing the sacrifice of blood with red, just wasn’t enough. “Something is not right.” Thought the Candy Maker. “Only a few weeks ‘til Christmas and I haven’t made the perfect candy gift.” At that time, the man had but a candy cane draped in white, and dipped partially in red. Another week passed and he could not perfect his design. With only 2 weeks to Christmas, and still needing time to make hundreds of these treats, he decided he needed help. Before bed that night, he asked God for guidance. He prayed that his design would take shape as God willed it. God answered him in a dream.

Darkness. A white light, so bright and true, filled the surrounding space. From the distance, a baby comes into focus, a baby in a bed of straw, with a laughter that radiated peace and warmth. Suddenly, a violent wave of blood swirled around the baby and consumed him. When the blood cleared, only a man stood. A man with a thorn crown, nails through his hands and feet, and marks from lashes and thorns all over him. With tears in his face and dripping of red, he smiled and said, “Let these scars show you the way.”

              It was still dark when the Candy Maker awoke from this dream. Nevertheless, he began to draw a new design. One with swirls and stripes. Thick ones, to represent the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins (that we may be forgiven for ours). Thin ones, to represent the suffering he went through before being nailed to the cross. They were to look like lashes and lacerations, the scars left behind when Jesus was arrested and tortured. Now, the candy could remind us of all of the sacrifices God and his son made to ensure our souls could live an eternity in heaven (that we may always know the love God has for us).

              The next two weeks were spent working long and hard to make enough Candy Canes for everyone in town. The finishing touch, to wrap them in a clear wrapper, so that everyone could see the true reason for Christmas when a Candy Cane is presented. The rest is history, but it doesn’t end there. For, you see, every time a Candy Cane is shared, so is the meaning of Christmas, the story of Christ, and the love of God and Jesus. Is it a wonder that love takes two and when one brings two Candy Canes together, they form a heart? That’s, also, because when two people exchange Candy Canes, they are exchanging their love for each and sharing a piece of their heart.

And they shared happily ever after…with no end!

Additional treat: When Candy Canes are crossed, as in the picture above, it looks like two people leaned over hugging. So, if you can’t be with your loved ones this Quarantined Holiday Season, consider sending them a Candy Cane and tell them it represents love, a hug from afar, and a piece of your heart…because sweets are treats for everyone, and you don’t have to be religious to enjoy them. Thanks for reading to the end.

The Achievement

Yosemite National Park
Atop Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

This summer, my family and I took a trip to this beautiful place. There, I had the opportunity to take many wonderful photos and hike some of the trails inside the park. That of which, the most challenging, was this one…and here is my true story:

The mountain was miles high. The person was broke. Broken back, injured knees, shoulder, neck, and arms. With all sorts of nerve damage, all left from the war. The challenge, to get to the top and back down.

The journey was agonizing. The path, steep and rough. So many slips and tears along the way. Midway up the mountain, she could barely take another step. Unwilling to give up, she pushed on.

Her legs collapsed dozens of times. Her arms gave out several times, too. Her mind couldn’t imagine finishing the hike. Her body didn’t feel like it could make it to the top, much less back down. However, her heart could not quit.

No one knows how, but she found herself atop of the World…finally.

She rested. She enjoyed the views and a rock seat next to a beautiful river fall. But, she couldn’t stay there forever. Thus, the journey wasn’t over. Even though the rest was an hour long, it was not sufficient. Time to return. The challenge continued. Down the mountain she went.

Still in pain and with all sorts of muscles failing, this is how she took the hike down.

One slip of a hand, here. One collapse of a leg, there. Arms and legs shook the entire way. She stumbled and slipped many more times. She even twisted her ankles just as much. Hitting a rock with her leg, or up against it with her body, was common.

But, she could not stay in the mountain throughout the night, so she forced herself to keep going, as she imagined herself stumbling down the rocky mountain, hitting trees along the way.

The journey was tough. The destination, amazing. Yet, she found herself in regret, as she realized that she was only half way down. When she had only a fourth of the way to go, she couldn’t believe just how far it still was.

With only a few thousand feet left, she wished to stop, for she couldn’t go on anymore. Then, she still would have to walk on level ground for a half of a mile to the car. In her mind, there was no way she could do it. No way would she, even, make it to the bottom.

A few steps more. This was the last bit. Every step was painful. But, she finally could see the bottom. Would she actually get off the mountain?

As she took her final step off the rocky path, she wondered if she would have to be carried to their parking spot. Point-Six miles, the sign read. That’s about how far the car was away, but not quite.

In victory, she sat. Oh, but it even hurt to sit. She never gave up. No one had to carry her or haul her in an Emergency Vehicle. Though, now, she cannot walk, or even stand, she can stand tall and proud of her achievement.

Who would have ever guessed that this little, broken woman could accomplish such a feat?

There must still be a Soldier in her!

Let no one ever claim she is weak, for she has shown her true strength.