Few things in life can produce such an instantaneous joyful reaction than the appearance of a pink bakery box. There’s something about that pink cardboard caddy that causes us to forego socially acceptable behavior as we stalk the person carrying the box to discover the contents of the pink bakery box.
From decadent donuts to frosted cupcakes to a buttercream birthday cake – nothing ignites our taste buds faster or stimulates our craniums quicker than trying to guess what goody awaits inside the pink bakery box.
Returning from vacation with my family recently, we indulged in a rare decadent treat of a dozen donuts for our six hour car ride home. As we made our bakery selections, the cashier filled our pink box. Watching the dance of her tongs as she carefully arranged our donuts, I realized that the pink bakery box never holds anything inedible or unpleasant. The pink bakery box is always a receptacle of happiness; a container of deliciousness.
As I enjoyed the first full-sized donut I’d consumed in nearly two years, I pondered the pink bakery box and the symbolism of this happy, inanimate object. I had hours of “think time” ahead of me and all that sugar coursing through my veins was literally food for thought for my travel boredom.
Quite simply, I deduced that a pink bakery box symbolizes joy.
As the tires chewed up desert asphalt, I spotted a roadside cross marker just past Indio. Seeing that cross was pause for meditation on what that marker symbolized to me.
Unlike the pink bakery box, the cross is a multi-faceted symbol that can bring joy and happiness, but it can also represent suffering and death.
The cross on the side of the road marking the spot where someone’s life was lost symbolizes sadness at a life cut tragically short. When I see a roadside cross my first thought is that I hope that person is with Jesus now.
The jeweled cross I wear around my neck is a reminder that I love Jesus and Jesus loves me. When I see a cross around the neck of a stranger, I wonder if they’re a believer and if we have a connection in our love of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
When I see a cross on a church I tend to think of what Christ did for us; the ultimate sacrifice of his horrific death on the cross so that we as believers could have eternal life. The cross reminds me that my salvation came at a very high price and a result of much suffering.
If we’re saved and know that our ultimate destination is Heaven, the cross can give us tremendous peace.
Through all of these scenarios there is one common denominator that the cross symbolizes to me, and that is hope; a hope that translates to peace … to power … to love … to joy … to grace … to forgiveness … to acceptance … to promise … and back again … to hope. My hope is in you, Lord!
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K..
OK…I really want a donut now!
I am totally impressed that you waited two years….
Wow.
Like the hope analogy.
The cross does have so many meanings. Great insights.