The Scarab: Rebirth from the Shadows

When you look at the center of the papyrus, you see the Scarab. Most people just see an insect, but in the context of my mother’s message, it is the most powerful symbol on the page.

The Scarab represents Khepri—the god of the rising sun. It is the symbol of “coming into being.” It represents the struggle of pushing through the dirt to reach the light.

For my wife, the Scarab is her story. She didn’t have an easy start; her life began in the “dirt” of foster care and abandonment. For years, I thought my mother looked down on that struggle. But by placing the Scarab in the heart of this message, my mother was acknowledging that my wife’s past wasn’t a shame—it was a transformation.

The Scarab proves that my mother saw her not as “broken,” but as someone who had successfully reinvented herself. It was the ultimate nod of respect.