What do you remember about your Easters as a child?
I remember one morning when I was up early to see if there was anything from the Easter Bunny for me.
I rushed outside in bare feet and my little girl nightgown to check the shrubbery around the house. The Easter Bunny left things outside for me since he was a rabbit and didn’t have a house key.
I walked in the cold dew getting my feet wet and my nightgown hem soggy. I pushed back the branches of the azaleas, I peered around the flowers and I carefully explored the front yard.
Then I saw it!
A purple basket with pink clear paper and a big bow was waiting for me!
I was so happy and excited, I rushed in to show Mama and Daddy who looked pleased and pretended surprise as I ooo’d and ahhhh’d over the candies and eggs I had gotten.
I remember my sons’ Easters as little boys with delight as they continued the tradition of the early Sunday morning hunt for their baskets. I remember the chocolate smiles and little sticky fingers as they decided what treat to enjoy first.
But I remember the joy of getting them dressed in their Easter best and going to church with them with the most happiness. It was fun to shop and decide what we would wear to celebrate the day.
It was fun to walk down the hill to church services. It was a great pleasure to sit together in the pew and worship, help the boys find the song numbers in the hymn book, direct their attention to their Daddy’s sermon, and try to keep order for the entire service.
Then we usually went with our adopted extended family to the country to enjoy a huge lunch of delicious food, let the cousins play around the house in the Kentucky spring, and feed the ducks in the pond.
They hid the eggs over and over and searched and ran and giggled in delight all afternoon. We talked, visited and watched the little ones enjoy the day.
Today, Gary and I don’t have little ones to watch on Easter morning, but we have little ones we will see at church as we celebrate the true meaning of Easter. Some ways we celebrate may differ as the years go by, but the miracle of Easter is unchanging and eternal.
Jesus left us an empty cross! He left an empty tomb! He left empty grave clothes!
He gave us a way of salvation, the promise of the resurrection and victory over death through Him! No matter our condition or situation — the Easter Promise from our Lord God is true, thrilling and transformative.
Celebrate His life in your life. Accept eternal life and forgiveness, and turn from sin as you turn to God and follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
If you look for Him, you will find Him.
“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.” (James 4:8)
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
