An object I own that means a lot to me is my necklace. When I was a baby I was baptized by my godparents and after they gifted me my baptismal cross. The cross hangs on a gold link chain and the cross itself is gold with white gold trim. A feature of it that I love the most is that it has my baptismal name engraved on the back in greek. Ever since I received this necklace I’ve never taken it off. The cross is a sacred symbol for my religion, Greek Orthodox Christian. A baptismal cross is not merely jewelry or decoration, but rather the sign of our belonging to Christ.
Every single night before I go to sleep I say a little prayer kiss my cross and put it to my heart giving God thanks for the life he has given me. My baptism when I was a baby has a symbolic meaning that I was ”born again” through the resurrection of Christ. So my cross symbolizes that moment and I wear it around my neck, proud, wherever I go. There was a span of time where I wasn’t able to have my cross. My mother had it stored away in a box. Then I was given it back once asked for it. Ever since then I feel that I’m safer now that I have this symbol with me. When I didn’t have it on it felt like a part of me was missing. But for the past 18 years of my life, there has been only one whole year where I didn’t wear my cross and it just didn’t feel right. That year many things were happening in my family. My grandfather was in and out of the hospital. when I went to visit him one day he grabbed my chest asking me in greek ”Where’s your cross?” I told him my mom had it. He told me to ask her for it and to never take it off. Ever since that day my cross hasn’t left my neck and my grandfather he’s been one healthy 80 year old.
The fact that it was made for only you with your name engraved in the back is so cool. It is so nice to see you take pride in your religion and wear a symbol of it everywhere you go. Its also nice to hear that your grandfather is healthy and doing good.
James, your writing suggests the sacred and deeply personal role this necklace plays in your life. Praying with it at the end of the day; your grandfather looking for it from his hospital bed– excellent use of scenes!
It seems cool, that you have a deep connection with that object and that it means a lot for you.