As a child I heard this tale:
Long ago during the days that Jesus was here on earth in the form of man there
were many dogwood trees. The dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree
and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was
selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use
greatly distressed the tree.
Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his
gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your
sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow
large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and
twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross two long and two short
petals.
In the center of the outer edge of each
petal there will be nail prints brown with rust and stained with red and in
the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will
remember."
