The Church Mouse: Think of the Easter We Can Have
The Church Mouse: Think of the Easter We Can Have
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
For several years, I always have lots of thing to do to get ready for Easter.
Every year I would say to myself on Ash Wednesday, this year is going to be different. I am going to slow down. I want to take time really enjoy the season, for what it was meant to be.
It seemed I was always coloring eggs, spend mega bucks on clothing that would only be worn one time, and the meal was a big elaborate affair. There would be endless practicing of music for Easter morning.
This year the details were not going to take over my life or the real meaning of Easter.
But just like every other year something happens and I was right back in the same rut! And the excuses were something like this: “It’s the last year the kids will be young enough to go to the Easter Party, so I must color eggs and buy chocolate bunnies. Or they have grown so much over the winter that we have to have new outfits! We have to have this huge meal and invite everyone, because you never know who might be missing next year. In my mind there was always a reason.”
But then something happened on the way to Easter!
Something that I had no control over! This event changed my whole life. I could not stop what was happening. I could only stand and try to figure out Why and What I was going to do next. It was Saturday night before Easter and someone in my immediate family died!
Looking back I now wonder how I managed to even function. But the world moved forward. The old saying “time waits for no one!” is true. Time does not stop for even the dead.
All of the elaborate Easter plans I had, of church, music, colored eggs, chocolates, food and clothes flew right out the window. Much to my dismay and surprise these events happened and without me there!
One of the things that I do remember in the blur of all of this was something that my Pastor said to me was.
“Think of the Easter he had!”
That was one of the comforts I held on to very tightly for the next few weeks when things got emotionally distressing for me.
“Think of the Easter he had!”
In holding on to that phrase, I have come to realize that Easter is not music, chocolates, colored eggs, bunnies, or new clothes. In fact it is not even a church service. Easter goes on whether we attend church or not.
The real Easter is an event within the human heart. Easter happens when a person reaches out and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Now I just have to remember to recall this when I start stressing about all the “things” I presume to think I need to have or do to celebrate Easter.
We just need to relax and let God be in control.
“Think of the Easter we can have!”
Father help us to remember that you are in control. Help us to focus on the important things of our life and that is to love you and to keep you first in all we do and say. Remind us Father, God that you sent your Son to die for us so we could have eternal life with you. Help us to have Easter in our hearts and minds at all time. Amen.
the Church Mouse
Work hard; Pray harder.
