I’ve shared this with you before, but today, I thought it was worth sharing again.

Let me tell you a story. It’s a legend actually, from Mexico. It is one that is told over and over, especially at this time of year and it is about the poinsettia.

In this legend, a poor girl names Pepita wanted to take a gift to the Christ child. But she had nothing of value to bring to the child. Her cousin Pedro told Pepita that the gift itself didn’t matter. If she offered her gift with a heart filled with love, anything would be an acceptable gift for the Christ child.

Pepita began gathering weeds and created a bouquet. As she lay her gift at the Christ child’s feet God was touched. He was moved to action. This small gift of weeds was transformed into beautiful flowers. And not just any flower, but into poinsettias. Each brilliant red and shaped like the Christmas star.

I love poinsettias…they are red, they are readily available at Christmas and they remind me of what Christmas is all about. Jesus. But I must tell you, when I heard this legend, I thought of the wonder of the whole Christmas story. That God was interested in sharing His Son with the world (and me). Of what the birth of His Son represented (redemption of mankind). But especially what happens when a heart filled with love accepts Jesus as their Savior.

Transformation, like the weeds to poinsettias, is what Jesus evokes within us. We want to be different because of the gift from God. We can offer our hearts and lives to him in their worst state (like the weeds) and when Jesus is finished, our hearts and lives are transformed into something beautiful and useful (like the poinsettia).

Romans 12:2 (NIV) is a passage that I use quite often in my writing. When we offer our lives to God for His use, we must be different. We must be changed. We must be transformed. And this verse says it best. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

What a promise! Transformation allows us to know God’s will for our lives. We are able to follow His ways and guidance with peace because we know how good, pleasing and perfect His will is for our lives.

We often ignore God’s will and the understanding of His will. When we do so, we are bound to live our lives with uncertainty. With unrest. With no clear direction. But when we allow God’s Spirit to transform us, we are able to see more clearly the path God has laid for our lives. It’s in that transformation that we find confidence, peace, and direction.

These days poinsettias come in many shapes, sizes and colors. They are each beautiful in their own way. Maybe this is our way of understanding that we are all unique. We each come to God at different times in our lives under different circumstances. But the real gift is that God takes us where we are and creates beauty from weeds we lay at His feet.

I don’t know where you are in your life today. Maybe today is the day that you need to offer your “weeds” to God. Maybe you need to offer God your heart with love. If you do, His transformation will be amazing. Perhaps even miraculous! And isn’t that what the Christmas season is about?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna