Compiled and retold by Donna Hatch
Long ago, families in a small Mexican village prepared their finest gifts to lay before the baby Jesus in the nativity in the church on Christmas Eve. One little girl named Pepita had always loved the tradition, but this year felt different. This year, she wanted to bring her own gift to the infant Christ child.
Because her family was very poor, they lacked the money to buy him gifts. Pepita tried to weave a colorful blanket for the baby as her mother had last year, but her yarns tangled. Next, she attempted to carve a wooden toy as her father had but she lacked the skill.
Christmas Eve arrived, and Pepita’s family joined the special procession with singing and lighted candles. Saddened that she had no gift of her own, she lagged behind the group.
Her cousin Pedro noticed her trudging with her head down. “Why aren’t you excited for Christmas Eve?” he asked.
“Because I have no gift of my own to bring.” She kicked at the dirt with her bare feet. “I tried to make a gift but I have nothing to give.”
Pedro put his arm around her. “Cheer up, Pepita. A gift of love is precious in God’s eyes.”
Pepita thought about that as she walked. Last year, she had noticed that the baby Jesus lay in a wooden crib with only a few pieces of straw. Perhaps this year, she could bring grasses and flowers to make his bed soft. She stopped along the road to gather everything she found, but the grasses were brown and withered and the flowers had died. Her bouquet looked more like prickly weeds than a bed fit for the Prince of Peace.
Inside the church, the villagers gathered wearing their finest apparel. Many fine gifts lay at the feel of the Baby Jesus. Ashamed of her bare feet, shabby clothes, and armful of weeds, Pepita hesitated to give her meager offering.
Yet, her cousin Pedro’s words came back into her mind, ‘A gift of love is precious in God’s eyes.’
Keeping to the shadows, Pepito crept to the nativity. “I love you, Jesus,” she whispered as she tucked the weeds around the Christ child.
She stepped back. Before her eyes, the weeds transformed into a bouquet of stunning scarlet and snowy flowers.
Behind her, someone murmured, “It’s a miracle.”
She turned to find the priest gazing at the beautiful flowers.
He turned to the congregation and gestured to Pepita. “The child has given a gift of the heart and received a miracle. Look at these beautiful red flowers. They represent the blood of Christ. And see these white flowers? They represent the purity of the Virgin Mary. The leaves represent the Star of Bethlehem.”
As reverent awe fell over the congregation, the priest continued, “These flowers shall evermore be known as Flores de Noche Buena or Flowers of the Holy Night.”
Warmth and love filled Pepita as she shyly bowed her head and sat with her family for church services. All her life, Pepita remembered that gifts from the heart are precious to God, and always gave her love to everyone around her.
Today these flowers are known as poinsettias and are some of the most iconic symbols of Christmas.
May your Christmas now and always be filled with love.
