Easter. There is so much to say about it. Easter has been one of my favorite holidays. I used to love it when I was a kid. Mom would get my sister and I each a new dress, and we would get all dressed up for church that day. We would go to the early service at church, have breakfast at church, have the normal morning service, and then head to Grandma’s house after church was finished. Once we got to Grandma’s, it was time for some amazing food! Honestly, would we love holidays as much as we do if we didn’t have really good food? I’m not real sure I know the answer to that question. Moving on!
Once we finished eating, my Aunts and Uncles would hide all the Easter eggs. My cousins, siblings, and I would have so much fun finding all those eggs. There were tons of little chocolate eggs all over the house and the yard. The egg hunt was probably the highlight of the day for us kids. Once the egg hunt was over, we would spend the rest of the day sitting around and playing while we munched on the candy. I’m sure our parents were overjoyed with how hyper we all got, but I think it was totally worth it.
As I got older though, I started realizing that Easter wasn’t just about good food and egg hunts. I always knew that Easter was about Christ’s resurrection, but I don’t think it started to sink in as deep as it should have until I was older. There was one year in particular that it hit me hard. It was the first Easter after my Mom was diagnosed with Leukemia. My sweet little Momma was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2005.
Easter was one of my Mom’s favorite holidays. She loved all the preparation, the new dresses, and the promise of Spring. But her favorite part of Easter was the church services. She loved going to church on Easter. My mom was saved later in life, so she had a very clear understanding what Easter really meant. I think that’s why Easter and Christmas were her favorite holidays.
My mom was one of the strongest Christians I had ever met. Even before she got sick, I knew I could go to her with anything and she would understand. She wouldn’t judge, but she would go to her Bible and show me the answer I needed. After she got sick, she was even stronger. She was so sick and weak, but I would come home from school or work and find her sitting up on the couch reading her Bible or praying. It became even more regular and longer amounts of time the closer she got to the end of her battle. I don’t know what she was praying for, but I have a strong hunch that she was praying for her children and not for herself.
As our time with Mom got shorter and shorter, she grew more concerned about us kids. I knew she didn’t want to leave, but God needed her in Heaven. Her work here was coming to a close.
I am so thankful that my mom was saved and that she is currently enjoying her time in Heaven while waiting for the rest of her family to join her. Now that I look back on it, Mom couldn’t have picked a better time to meet Jesus. Mom’s funeral was the day before Easter of 2006. She got to spend Easter with Jesus that year.
Easter is all about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. He went through a horrific death on the cross for us. For ALL of us. He doesn’t exclude anyone from accepting that gift. He wants us to accept that gift so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him once our time on earth is done. My mom’s time was done almost 12 years ago now, but she has an eternity left in Heaven! She has no more pain or suffering. No more tears. No more sorrow. We can all have that gift. All we have to do is accept it. I accepted this gift on October 10, 1993. I know I will see my Mom again. And we will have so much fun on that day. And I will never be separated from her again. I will have an eternity in Heaven with her to tell her about her grandkids and their crazy antics. My two oldest children have also accepted this gift. They may not have met their Grandma here on earth, but they will get to meet her in Heaven. I pray every day that all of my children will accept Christ so that they too can spend eternity in Heaven.
So, why is Easter one of my favorite holidays? I love it because of the promises that it holds. I love it because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me. The imperfect, rebellious me. I don’t deserve to go to Heaven. I’m a sinner. Everyone is a sinner. But saved sinners go to Heaven. We are washed in the blood of Jesus and are on our way to Heaven. And that, my friends, is why I love the Easter holiday. Jesus didn’t stay in that tomb. He rose again! I serve a risen Savior! He is sitting at the right hand of God, and He is waiting for His children. He is waiting for me!
Imperfection At Its Finest 