An insignia decorating the cloak covering armor or shields in medieval times was known as the coat of arms. Stuffed full of symbolism and meaning they consisted of a shield and certain accessories. Each design included symbols unique to a person, family, corporation, or state. The idea of a designing a coat of arms for my family has intrigued me for years. As you consider this gourmet day, imagine what items you’d include in your family’s coat of arms.
Many elements are possible for the design, but a few are common: a motto; one or more animals or mascots—sometimes called ‘supporters’; colors with significance; armor, weapons, crosses, crowns and the like which hold meaning; a shield sits at the center.
My ‘mascots’ or ‘supporters’ would be two animals. First, a Galapagos turtle. He would be positioned standing on his hind legs with his two front feet against the shield at center. As you face the coat of arms, he would be on your left. The left because in Biblical thinking, it is the side of the temporal or physical. The Galapagos lives long on the earth—up to 150 years. It is easy to approach (not wild) and it moves slowly, but intentionally between sea and land. These turtles are large and strong, capable of carrying an adult on their backs. I choose them because in my family I want health and longevity for each member, I want prudence and intentionality to pace each day and season of their lives, and I want them to not only care for themselves, but be stable and strong such that they can bear the burdens of others. My hope also is that the attitude of my family be relationship based—easily approached and open to those unlike themselves.
The second animal on our coat would be the unicorn, which would stand on its rear feet with front hooves leaned against the center shield. It would be on the right side since it is the side of the unseen and spiritual. The unicorn represents the values and behaviors in life that the unspiritual person does not believe can exist—like unicorns. I believe in marriages that last a lifetime—and get better over time/not worse, teens with great attitudes who respect rather than resent their parents, chastity until marriage, two year olds that obey the first time they are told to do something, husbands who lead and love and romance their wives like God loves his bride, mothers whose full attention is devoted to the rearing of their little ones, debt-free living, answers to prayer, and personal friendship with the Creator. Many think of these and other ideals as so much hooey, but not my family. We don’t believe in unicorns, or Big Foot, or martians, but we do believe in what ideals many, having never seen them, assume do not exist.
What mascot(s) would you choose for yourself and why? Next week, let’s meet again at www.gourmetday.blogspot.com and think through some of the other elements of our family coat of arms. Have a great week. See you then.
NOTE:The coat of arms pictured above was found at wikipedia.com
All material copyrighted by Stephen Meeks
