The Meaning of the Elephant

Today John and Gail brought me two rings, two earrings and a bracelet that had belonged to Seana.

The rings are sterling silver and have elephants carved, connected and encircling.  

I was curious about the elephants and so googled them to see if there was a particular symbolism surrounding them.

Here is what I discovered - “They are highly revered for their strength and power....The elephant is probably the most positive animal symbol known. Here are some of the many lessons we can learn from the elephant:

1. Strength
2. Wisdom
3. Solitude
4. Strong sense of loyalty to the family
5. Intelligence.”

I was deeply moved.  Surely this description pertains and did pertain to the spirit with which Seana lived.

Seana displayed great strength and power in her fight against cancer.  She did everything she could and more to make a difference, to add quality and meaning to each and every day.

She developed and maintained a most positive attitude despite the toll cancer took in ravaging her delicate and lovely body.  Hope was a flame she would not consent to blow out.

Seana demonstrated steel-like strength in her faith. She showed us all her love and trust in Jesus. She told me just a week and a day before she went into septic shock, that she had decided she wasn’t going to try anymore to figure out all the mysteries in the Bible, she was just going to say like Job did, “blessed be the name of the Lord.”

She generously shared the wisdom she acquired, honed through great suffering. She shared her hope, her gratitude for each day, her discovery of wonderful books that helped her along this so very precarious journey that she was travelling.  She shared with me her love of the book “The Shack” and how she found such comfort and encouragement in it.

In times of solitude Seana took the time to meditate, to pray, to think, to read- to develop in herself the best qualities of rich character that she showed to us over and over again.

Seana always displayed a strong sense of loyalty to the family. She loved Vincent with all of her heart.  She yearned deeply to participate fully in times spent with her Mom, her Dad, her sisters, brothers-in-law and her sweet nephews.  And Seana did all of that, loved deeply and passionately.

She also exhibited great intelligence.  Seana earned a Master’s Degree, she worked in cancer research at Sunnybrook Hospital.  She thoughtfully and capably entered into discussions about life, faith,  and the world around her, she knew how to communicate with clarity and effectiveness.

I take great comfort in these discoveries today... I put the ring on my finger, the elephants encircle it, reminding me as elephants traditionally do, that Seana, beloved Seana, will not and cannot be forgotten.