It’s Easter. A day to celebrate. A day filled with church services, egg hunts, and spring outfits.
We had dyed our Easter eggs the night before, laid out our new (consigned) outfits, gave the kids a much needed bath. We were ready for the fun-filled, special day ahead.
We had dyed our Easter eggs the night before, laid out our new (consigned) outfits, gave the kids a much needed bath. We were ready for the fun-filled, special day ahead.
The day started like any other Sunday morning. Tears from a sleepy toddler who decides Sunday is his one day of the week to sleep in. We wrestled our sleepy, teary-eyed boy and our baby girl into their Easter Sunday best. After combing through bed head, topping our daughter off with a giant bow, and feeding them both a quick breakfast, my husband and I have just enough time to throw on our attire and brush our hair before we are out the door.
I’m looking forward to hearing the lesson on this Easter Sunday. If you have young children, you know hearing full sermons are few and far between. Today was one of those “few.”
Our baby girl is at the age where she has just discovered her voice so she is talking, screaming, and singing like it’s nobody’s business. My son is dumping out a bag full of cheerios onto the pew. Both babies have already spit up onto their nice outfits and I’m desperately rubbing lotion on their shirts to drown out the smell of sour milk.
I’m looking forward to hearing the lesson on this Easter Sunday. If you have young children, you know hearing full sermons are few and far between. Today was one of those “few.”
Our baby girl is at the age where she has just discovered her voice so she is talking, screaming, and singing like it’s nobody’s business. My son is dumping out a bag full of cheerios onto the pew. Both babies have already spit up onto their nice outfits and I’m desperately rubbing lotion on their shirts to drown out the smell of sour milk.
In the midst of all this chaos I hear the preacher say “Life does not begin after birth. Life begins after death.” Though I knew he was speaking on the Death, Burial, and Resurrection, I did not hear much of the lesson. But I did hear that. Life begins after death. What a paradox.
This paradox is why we celebrate today. Christ died to give me life. Me. The undeserving mother cleaning up spit up and cheerios. The undeserving wife who snaps at her husband for no good reason. The undeserving woman who questions God over and over why he does what he does in her life. He died for my husband who can be impatient with his wife and children on occasion, who forgets to study the bible with his family. He died for my innocent children sitting in my arms.
This paradox is why we celebrate today. Christ died to give me life. Me. The undeserving mother cleaning up spit up and cheerios. The undeserving wife who snaps at her husband for no good reason. The undeserving woman who questions God over and over why he does what he does in her life. He died for my husband who can be impatient with his wife and children on occasion, who forgets to study the bible with his family. He died for my innocent children sitting in my arms.
Why would this perfectly perfect man do this complete act of selflessness for such a faulty, imperfect, sinning human as myself? Why would he do this for the murderer, the adulterer, the thief, the greedy, the liar, the non-believer?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
This day is not about the colored eggs, the baskets filled to the brim with chocolates, the clean-pressed spring outfits or even going to church services. While all those things are fun and good and appropriate, this day is about the paradox of having life after death.
The promise God has given us that He will wipe away our sin. The lies, the cruel words, the doubting, the unfaithfulness. He will give us a new life. A true life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
This day is not about the colored eggs, the baskets filled to the brim with chocolates, the clean-pressed spring outfits or even going to church services. While all those things are fun and good and appropriate, this day is about the paradox of having life after death.
The promise God has given us that He will wipe away our sin. The lies, the cruel words, the doubting, the unfaithfulness. He will give us a new life. A true life.