Elliot left us with art of a Christmas greeting card with significant historical messages from the star of Bethlehem, clouds, holly, candy cane, flickering candle, and rosary. Star of Bethlehem - Wise Men appeared before King Herod in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” https://www.celebratingholida… Clouds - The Holy Spirit is the mysterious and abiding presence of God, and throughout both the Old and New Testaments clouds signify God’s presence. Clouds symbolize the Holy Spirit because they provide life-giving water. God led his people with a cloud or appears to them in a cloud. (Exodus 16:10) Elliot’s art combined clouds with light symbolizing God as hidden and mysterious but also God as revealing and luminous. https://www.archspm.org/faith…https://www.bibletools.org/in…https://www.loyolapress.com/c… Holly - Otherwise known as the Holy Tree, there are red berries to represent drops of blood shed for salvation, sharp leaves to symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns, the flame shape of leaves to reveal God’s burning love, and so historically we deck halls with boughs of holly. https://www.celebratingholida… Candy Cane - represents the Shepherd’s Staff Flickering Candle - The light of the flickering candle flames represent Jesus “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) https://www.crosswalk.com/spe… Rosary - symbolizes prayer https://catholicsbible.com/wh…
Thank you for the ongoing show of support and love - it means so much to us. And to all of you who helped us get to the finish line on Elliot's memorial stone, your profound generosity is humbling and will never be forgotten.