Friday, April 2, 2010

Easter

Coloring eggs - purple and blue always my favorite. Hiding the eggs then looking for the eggs. It was all great fun when I was young. We hid those eggs over and over. It seemed like we hid them for hours. Looking back, it is a bit disturbing; later we ate those same eggs, now many broken – how did we survive?
The coloring of the eggs was a great event. Mom boiled the water and filled each cup with a different colored liquid. It was a shared event, at least for us younger siblings. Each of us shared the cups placing our eggs into the cup of choice and dyeing the eggs to all different colors and shades. I am pretty sure mine were the prettiest. That was all great fun but Easter is not about colored eggs.
Today I was wondering when the real meaning of Easter came to reside in me. When did the real meaning of Easter actually begin to matter? Was it after I had children and the weight of their souls weighed upon my conscious? Was it as a child when I heard the Bible story of Peter denying the Christ three times? And wondering would I have done different? Or was it the story of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus, for forty pieces of silver? Or, maybe it was that first sun rise service I attended, huddling close to my daughter in the cold and hearing the words, “He has risen.” And, then our response, “He has risen indeed.”
Maybe it was as a teenager, when my sin weighed heavy upon me and the inner turmoil ravaged my heart from the guilt I carried day in and day out. Then late one night sitting across from RA we talked quietly about the cross and the completeness of Jesus death and resurrection, and how forgiveness was offered to anyone who wanted forgiveness as a free gift. Then there was my prayer of confession and the received forgiveness that resulted in a peace that rushed over my heart giving me a freedom from the mire I had sunk into – Oh what joy! – Oh what freedom! It was like a huge heavy weight was lifted off me. That is something I will never forget.
I cannot tell you an exact time when Easter’s true meaning came to be a part of me – but I am grateful beyond words for the freedom and joy that is mine because of what Jesus went through. Easter is certainly a time each year when the gravity of Christ’s death and resurrection is considered and the profoundness is focused on and I cannot help being overwhelmed with gratitude.
Tonight is Friday – the night the Christian world acknowledges Christ’s death on the cross. In two days we will acknowledge the power of his resurrection for the forgiveness of sin. May all my readers enjoy His peace and forgiveness that surpasses all understanding.
He has risen…

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Someday Grayquill, I hope to be able to write with such wisdom and have my soul shine through in my writing and touch someone's spirit like your post touched mine today.
But then again maybe it is not just the talented writer...Maybe it is the wisdom and calm that only years of observing life can bring forth.

I feel that forgiveness holds only if we learn our lessons and don't keep repeating ourselves and keep asking for forgiveness. And that sadly is easier said than done...

I am sharing an Easter Wish that I received from someone in my mail today.
"May his love..
Embrace your heart
May his eternal light..
Guide your path
And may his sacrifice..
Strengthen your soul
Happy Easter"

Amrita said...

Thank you for this beautiful testimony GQ.

I gave my heart to Christ when I was 12 years old after listening to the story of the crucifixtion.

Have a blessed Rester

Hilary said...

Have a wonderful Easter :)

Blunt Edges said...

n somedays i feel so happy 2 be a blogger coz i got 2 know someone like u n read something so pure n honest as this.

i can't be mean today. happy easter :)

Sylvia K said...

A beautiful and moving Easter post, GQ! Thanks for sharing it!

Sylvia

Dianne said...

I wish you and all those you love much joy and peace this Easter and always

and the purple eggs were always my favorite too :)

silverine said...

That was beautiful! You captured the essence of Easter so well. A Happy and Blessed Easter to you and your family.

Grayquill said...

Choco: Thank you! Asking for forgiveness and returning to the sin – certainly is tragic. Thanks for the nice poem – what a great blessing!

Amrita: Twelve years old – Sweet! Blessings

Hilary: Back at you :)

Blunt Edges: I am impressed you restrained yourself – This comment brought out the old

Blunt Edges I see – well the old Blunt Edges partially.
Thanks for the kind words – I appreciate them!

Sylvia K: You are always so nice. I am glad the post touched you! – Thank you for stopping by.

Dianne: Yes – purple Did Grandma buy Hope a new Easter dress?

Silverine: Such a compliment – WOW! Thanks for the kind greeting.

Michele Mallory-Davidson said...

I have been a BAD, BAD blogger buddy... thank you for being kind to me!
Your post touched me, I am not sure when the true meaning of Easter came to me either. I always remember my grandma, Granny Goose, at Easter. I remember how it seemed VERY important to her... the memories make me happy and I feel like she is the one that gave me the gift of the true meaning of Easter. I had never really thought about it, thank you Grayquill, for making me think. Tomorrow will be even that more special for me!
~Michele

Choco said...

@Grayquill: Hmmm...The word "sin" is scary..I think I meant getting over attitudes and egos to be more precise...Hmmm...I need to lighten up. :D

S. Susan Deborah said...

GQ:

Easter always opens so many thoughts of reflections and wonder. Easter is not about him conquering death and sin but WE conquering it. And that is why we are more than conquerors! How nice to even think of that victory which was given freely. Sometimes I fall short of words to even imagine such grace. It's wonderful.

Joy and peace always,
Susan

Lynda G. said...

HAPPY EASTER!

Debra said...

Thank you so much for sharing this GQ. Such a blessing to read of how others come to know and love Jesus.

It seems each year I get older the more meaningful the resurrection story comes to me. Each year I cry a little more as I watch the Easter drama unfold as it is performed at our local church.

How blessed we are for that empty tomb and a risen Saviour!

Glory!

Grayquill said...

Michele: Granny Goose????? How did grandma get that name?
Thanks for the kind words – I am glad you like this post. :)

Choco: You need to lighten up – that’s a good one. Let’s see does ego = pride? And attitudes – positive attitudes are pretty good. Maybe you are talking about what my sixth grade teacher used to say, “Grayquill, you have a DRA” – dirty rotten attitude or cranky. :)
So what is the difference between :) and :D or :p Just trying to keep up - it gets tiring, always being at the back of the pack.

Susan Deborah: I am not sure I understand your comment – I can read it we a couple of ways but I certainly agree with your comment “such grace.”
Thanks for stopping by – You are appreciated!

Lynda G: Thank you!

Debra: Your comment reminds me of the words – ‘he who has been forgiven much loves much’ – or something like that.:) Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughtful words from the heart!

Akshaya Kamalnath said...

happy easter....your post brings out the purity of the message.