Easter in Real Life

When I woke up yesterday I was excited to be spending the day celebrating our risen Savior. First a sunrise service at church, lunch with friends and then a relaxing afternoon and evening for Ev's last day off for two weeks. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way. After showering and dressing, it became clear that I would be spending the day in bed, sick with the same virus the boys had last week. I'm not going to lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I missed the boys hunting for their Resurrection Eggs that I had hidden the night before. I barely got to see Fiona in her pretty Easter dress on her first Easter. Everett took all three kids to church (Super Dad), and I was left home alone, feeling miserable. I turned on some praise music and started to reflect on Christ's suffering instead of my own: Sure, I was feeling pretty rotten, but not compared to what Christ went through. In fact, though we are told that we will suffer for our faith, I've never come close to experiencing what many Christians around the world suffer each day. I was feeling lonely, but what do I know of loneliness? My Lord knew true loneliness as he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." That spiritual separation from His father, with whom he is one, is unlike anything I will ever experience.

I was still sick, but it did give me a chance to reflect deeply on some things that might have been missed otherwise in the bustle of activity. I also experienced blessing through an unusual avenue- Facebook. My pointer finger was still functional, so I was able to check FB from my phone. I was so encouraged by other brothers and sisters in Christ posting praises to God. I admit, I'm still a little sad there isn't a nice family picture for Fiona's first Easter. In fact, these are the only pictures form the whole day. By the afternoon, I was feeling a little better so I snapped these from my spot in bed.



Somehow, the boys' Easter shirts managed to make it through the whole day without any stains and still looked nice enough for a precious picture. Fiona had long since been changed into a pajama shirt, but I made her Daddy put on her Easter bow. (which he purposefully accidentally neglected to do for church)



Maybe next year these pictures will help remember to be more focused on what Easter is all about.


But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:1-5

Praise the Lord, He is risen!!