What does the symbol of the cross mean to you? Many people would have many different answers to what we think and feel when we see this 2000 year old symbol.
We are bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands of symbols on any given day.
One such symbol is that of the gecko.
What comes to mind when you think of this little green creature.
I venture to guess that it is not an image of a vast dry desert and cacti.
More likely, you may be thinking '15 minutes could save you 15 or more on car insurance'.
Symbols are powerful.
I recently learned from a friend the meaning behind the Nike symbol.
It is actually called the swoosh and I am betting you can picture it in your head.
The Nike swoosh was made by a freelance graphic design student named Carolyn Davidson.
She turned the design in for a mere $38.
00 to a sporting company called Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS).
She got the idea for the swoosh from the wing in a famous statue of the Greek Goddess of victory named.
The symbol to us is of great speed and power.
The symbol of the cross is very powerful, especially for Christians.
It is a reminder of the agony and shame our Lord and Savior suffered for us, his beloved.
Did you know that the word 'crucify' and 'excruciating' comes from the same root word in Hebrew? Jesus prayed in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane because he knew of the suffering he was about to endure.
He was terrified to the point He was crying out and sweating blood.
Because He loved us so much, he accepted this as his will.
To me, the cross is a symbol of hope and comfort.
I have learned that the only thing that can satisfy me is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
There is nothing of this world, not a perfect marriage, kids, great friends, or money, that can satisfy what my heart truly yearns for.
Earlier, I mentioned that my father had made me a handmade cross.
It has more value to me than anything I have ever gotten from a store.
What makes it unique that it is truly handmade and one of a kind.
My parents and sister each have one, but none of them are exactly the same.
Another thing that is neat is that most of the materials to make the cross are from materials from my dad's yard.
He uses a medium to large size stone to make the base, and smaller pebbles for added decoration.
The wood he uses is from his yard also.
The only store bought item to make up the cross is some leather twine.
The cross is somewhat rustic.
I guess 'earthy' would be a better description.
I will attach a picture below for you to see.
My parents are both wonderful and devoted Christians.
My mom is the director of adult ministries at our church, and my dad is the coordinator of Upward Soccer.
My mom is big on prayer.
She will drop everything she is doing in order to have the chance to pray for anybody.
What is amazing is that she prays over the handmade crosses my dad makes.
She feels (and I agree) it is so powerful to pray over these crosses and the hands they will be delivered into.
Whenever I look at my cross, I feel a sense of comfort to know that my father's hands created it and it is full of my mother's prayers.