Symbols are everywhere around us. In our daily interactions with life we are bound to run into something that has some sort of symbolic meaning. These symbols appear on things such as: money, commercials, books, music, personal items and of course religion. For every symbol out there, there is a significant meaning attached to them. The various meanings can represent emotions, people, business, etc. A symbol is meant to make us think about something else, often times they are able to put all those descriptive words and feelings into one iconic image. Symbols may help one remember the past or serve as a warning to danger. From a very young age we are taught the meaning of symbols. To me I knew that the oven was a symbol for pain because when I touched it while it was hot I burned myself. Another symbol that I learned when I was young was that my teddy bear was representative of safety and love. Those examples may not seem like obvious symbols, but anything that you have attached a significant meaning to and invokes those emotions when you see that object or icon is a symbol. It seems that in every religion there is some sort of icon or symbol that represents the faith that you have in God, Buddha, or any other type of religious deity. Some symbols of religion are actual statues of the deity that you believe in or they are a singular icon. The symbol that you have for your religion is encompassing all that you believe. It puts those words that you cannot express into a representative thing, a way to help show the devotion and love that you have for your religion. The cross is one of the earliest and most widely used Christian symbols. In the broadest sense it symbolizes the religion of Christianity. Specifically, it represents and memorializes Christ's death. Many types of crosses have developed over many years; some crosses have a specific symbolic meaning and others that have simply become culturally associated with certain groups. Depending on the area the cross is often shown in different shapes, sizes and styles. The cross also means a variety of things to different people. However, there is a common thread that seems to have been made between all the Christian meanings and that is faith. It seems that the cross is everywhere: TV, movies, books, bumper stickers. Often times when a symbol is everywhere and seen by all it tends to lose its meaning and purpose. Or we become so desensitized to the symbol that we don't even recognize it as a symbol and it just becomes another meaningless object in our lives. However, the cross still seems to invoke those feelings of faith and trust. The symbol is safe and has a deep rooted meaning within society. The cross is a unifying symbol and even if one is not Christian one usually knows what the cross represents. As a symbol of a belief the cross is a universal symbol that reminds Christians of the sacrifice that Christ made. Symbols are everywhere and they are used by everyone. The same symbol can have different meanings to different people. However, their purpose is the same; they are there to remind you of something else. The cross is just one example of a universal symbol that we deal with in our everyday lives. Even if one is not religious the cross probably still holds some meaning to that person. Whether we know it or not we are always affected by the symbols that are around us. We just need to know how and where to look for them.
As my three-year-old daughter was watching the movie Peter Pan, I stopped to watch it with her for a moment. It soon came the part where Wendy and the Lost Boys must believe that fairies exist in order to not only save Tinkerbell, but Peter too. Everyone in the movie starts chanting, "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do!" At that moment I thought about the unseen things in this world that we believe in as adults - the somewhat magical beings that give us hope and inspiration throughout our lives. Just as Peter Pan has his Tinker bell watching over his shoulder and helping him when he needs it, I thought to myself, "I do believe in angels, I do, I do!"
Some may not be able to say this with total surety, but I can because I've recognized the hands of angels guiding me through this life since I can first remember as a teenager.
It all began when my Grandma Virginia passed away when I was about sixteen years old. She was my Mother's mother and we had a lot in common. I loved her very much and even though she lived far away most of my life, I would still visit her every so often and enjoy it so much. She had smiling eyes and a gentle nature. She was the kind of woman people wanted to be friends with. However, it wasn't until she passed away that I felt a truly strong connection to her - like she was watching me and sometimes even speaking to me from the Heaven's. I don't want to go into too much detail about the sacred moments when she has truly touched my life as an angel, but more recent events lead me to believe she is still there watching over me.
My two year old son, who is truly a light in this world with his infectious, constant smile, has pointed my Grandma's angel spirit out to me a few times now. It's always the same place that he sees her. We'll be sitting in church on Sunday out in the foyer on the couch or standing around waiting when he points up to the corner of the blank, white ceiling and says, "Grandma." He's done this at least three separate times now over the last year and somehow I know it is her, my Grandma Virginia, still watching over me. Then, I also think how wonderful it is that my son, being such a young spirit, is still connected to the Heaven's in such a way as he can feel her near.
I know children do have a special connection to angels and the Heavens as they can see and feel things that we cannot always see and feel. We learn from children everyday about believing, about faith, and about trust. They are our teachers just as we are theirs.
There is one child in particular who has taught me the most about believing, faith and trust. She is the first child that I gave birth to. Unfortunately, she was also stillborn at seven months along. I was able to hold her two pound, perfect body in my arms and come to peace with her passing. She is also my angel. She and I are connected in such a way as I always feel her pulling me along in this life. She is my constant, guiding force always urging me to be better so that I might one day return back to her with honor, and to be at last her Mother in Heaven. I would do anything to have her in this life, but I also know that through losing her I have gained such an overwhelming appreciation for her siblings that I'm raising now, and my belief, faith and trust has increased ten- fold in God and his plan for my family. There have been other, specific moments when she has touched my life as an angel spirit, but, again, I hold those times sacred.
And so, with all surety, I know we are guided by angels, mostly unseen and unknown, in this life. They are Heaven's messengers giving us the guidance and help we need. Sometimes they are there simply to increase our faith and sometimes they come to us in order to help us through an extremely difficult task. I know through my own experience that angels do exist. Like Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys believe with child-like faith in fairies, I can honestly say, "I do believe in angels, I do, I do!"
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10x Marketing has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Bridesmaid and Satellite. Taryn Martin is a Client Account Specialist for 10x Marketing and loves to try and find symbols in the world around her. To find a variety of crosses like a. 10x Marketing's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Kari Hoopes has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Health and Payday Loans. Kari Hoopes is the owner of the bath and body workshop where you can learn how work. Follow the link to learn more about her most recent venture,. Kari Hoopes's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.