Easter

Easter is such a wonderful time of the year. Especially if you live in Minnesota, or another northern state for that matter. Why you ask? Because it is Spring time. The winter blahs are able to get out of our system, the weather is getting warmer and we are able to start enjoying the outdoors again. Of course mother nature can be unpredictable and give us snow or cold temperatures from time to time but for the most part it is wonderful.

Today is Easter and was again celebrated by going to church, a visit from the Easter bunny and great food with family. The weather was picture perfect with blue skies, sunshine and high temperatures in the 60's. A picture perfect day really. Amidst the on again, off again regularity of little miss attending church throughout her almost 4 years of life, I want to start to instill in her a sense of why we celebrate Christmas and Easter. It is so much more than the visits from the jolly man that comes down our chimneys and leaves piles of presents or Mr. E Bunny who mysteriously leaves large amounts of candy and gifts for us to enjoy.

Out of curiosity I asked hwe if she knew why we celebrate Easter. Knowing her response would be "yes mommy" I began to explain because I knew she would not be able to answer me when I asked her why we celebrate this important Holiday. I told her about the love that God has for us. I explained that Easter is a time that we celebrate because Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead and forgives us of when we do things we should not do. I ask her often who loves her and her standard response is "mommy and daddy do". I explained that while mommy and daddy loves her with all our hearts, that God loves her way more than we ever could. She was very quiet in the back seat of the car as we drove to church. I was not exactly sure if she grasped this concept or not.

We went throughout our day, enjoying Sunday School, the beautiful weather and fun times with her cousins, nana and papa and aunties and uncle. On our way home she heard someone on the radio (KTIS) say that we celebrate Easter. She said "mommy, did she say Easter?" to which I replied with a simple "yes". She then proceeded to relay the information back to me from the conversation we had in the car close to 12 hours earlier. She told me that "we celebrate Easter because Jesus died on the cross and he was happy when Easter came, and God loves us". This put a large smile on my face as I realized that she had been listening and understood even a small, yet so important part of it. My almost 4 year old told me why we celebrate Easter and it was not an answer that included anything regarding the bunny that had come and left her candy the night before.

This places a large smile on my face even as I recall it later on. Of of my favorite worship songs is "Stronger". The most important words of the song are "You are stronger, You are stronger, sin is broken you have saved me. It is written, Christ is Risen, Jesus you are Lord of all" Here is a link to You Tube that shows Hillsong performing it. One of my favorite songs and I was so happy to hear the intro after the message this morning at church. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv55FMjeMV0

Happy Easter to my family and friends. No matter what you are facing today, remember that He is risen and is Lord of all.
Blessings