Dogwood Prayer

Apr 17, 2012

A dogwood tree in our backyard produced only a handful of blossoms last year. Ten days ago on Easter Sunday hundreds of nascent blossoms appeared on the tree. Today it is in full bloom. The flowers are a luscious color of deep pink with a hint of salmon.

My normal prayers are abstract, unplanned doodles, but I couldn’t resist trying to draw a dogwood blossom. After I finished the prayer I remembered the legend of the dogwood tree and its flower. The four-petaled flower often looks like a cross with indentations or holes at the tip of each blossom. The holes represent the imprint of the nails; the reddish/brown coloring next to the holes symbolizes Jesus’s Blood. In the center of the flower, the green buds look like a crown of thorns.  I guess the shape was an appropriate choice for an Eastertide prayer!

 

 

4 Comments

  1. Beautiful photos of tree and bouquet. Beautiful pink prayer drawings.

    Reply
  2. I received two ceramic buttons in the mail yesterday. A friend has had them for years and felt I would know what to do with them. I immediately identified them as Dogwood Blossoms and went to the internet to find the Legend of the Dogwood Tree to print and send to her. I have a very special purpose for these but it is too extensive to write, thank you for your posting it is so appreciated.

    Reply
  3. My family said the DOGWOOD PRAYER, AT MEAL TIME, daily! I had a picture of hanging on the wall by our kitchen table! Ralph, Shannon, Aimee n Adam Klisch
    Thank you, Shannon McIntire ALLEN-SHERWOOD

    Reply
    • Thanks, Shannon. I’m not sure I know the “traditional” dogwood prayer. I’ve seen the story but not a prayer.

      Reply

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