For InSPIREd Sunday and Spiritual Sundays I’m going back to a road trip our daughter and I took to get her back to North Carolina to welcome her husband home from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. One of the places we took time to visit was Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Legend of the Dogwood
There is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber of the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: “Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. ..two long and two short petals. And 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 it will remember.”
I recognize that this is just a legend but I wanted to post this entry because I’ve always loved the Dogwood blooms. If I look at them and think about what my Savior did for me that’s a good thing. He created the tree, the beautiful bloom, and you and me to enjoy it!
We will be taking a short road trip to Canada on Saturday. I’ll share about our time next week. It takes us under two hours to get to the U.S./Canadian border from where we live in Washington State. Hope you have a wonderful first weekend in May!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Wonderful photos!
Ellen, I never knew the legend of the Dogwood tree. I think my of my Mom everytime I see a Dogwood because she loved them so much. I’ll now think of this legend too!
This entire post just takes my breath away…..
Thank you for posting this. What an interesting legend, and I would feel the same way about it that you do. What beautiful sculptures in that cemetery. Btw, it always bothered me that any soldier should have to do multiple deployments in dangerous areas. It just doesn’t seem right. Have a safe trip. Oh.One more thing: We’d always before rented a car while in the UK and will probably do that again sometime, but to cover a lot of ground to particular spots, the train was great!
Oh I remember that journey! It was delightful to see unfold. Amazing all the miles that have gone by since then! And that your daughter and her husband now live in your corner again.
A beautiful trip and Dogwood legend!
The Dogwood in my area is a shrub with cream and green colour leaves, no flowers. But those in your pics are beautiful! Have a great time in B.C. Ellen!
You must treasure the memories of those long cross-country trips with your daughter – special times together! Your photos are so very beautiful! I hope you’ve had a good day in BC!
Your images of the stones in this cemetery are outstanding! TomThe Backroads traveller
Beautiful photos of a lovely cemetery in Spring. Thank you for sharing.
I love the legend of the dogwood. It is one of my favorite trees. Lovely old church and gravestones.
What a great legend about the dogwood tree; I’d not heard it before. Your photos are all beautiful. The church looks very special, but those dogwood trees really drew my eye. We don’t have so many of them here in England so it was a treat to see these ones. You must have had a very happy time with your daughter, knowing that your son-in-law was coming home safely. I wish you a great trip to Canada and look forward to seeing the photos. All the best, Bonny
i love all your spring views. gorgeous architecture & headstones. ( :