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| Easter 2007 |
| My memories of Easter come with spending time with my family and friends and a wonderful meal with all sharing together. Children and Easter baskets filled with candy and boiled eggs, hand colored and all decorated ready for hiding and finding as many as you could. The new plastic ones have replaced the time and energy it takes to be creative for many of us in our busy lives today. The week of the Easter Holiday begins with a Good Friday service and emphasis on the meaning of the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples and his crucifixion for most of us. The story of Christ's death is retold and re-enacted in many places and in many different ways. Saturday is usually a day spent cooking and preparing for the Easter Sunday dinner, ironing, and laying out our new spring clothes for the following day. We rise up very early on Easter Sunday morning to attend a Sunrise Service filled with joyful songs of Christ's resurrection and His victory over death. We sometimes bring and place flowers and decorate a cross representing our meager way of trying to change an old rugged cross into something beautiful. The main Easter worship service is crowded in attendance more than usual with people wanting to experience the day marked in history for themselves and their families. These memories will be etched in their minds for years to come and repeated for the next generation to follow. This year the season of celebrating Easter has been very much different and difficult for me than any other year in the past. Many things have tainted my focus on the resurrection of Christ. Life and family have changed for my family and me. Loved ones and friends are no longer living to celebrate with us. My physical body has become worn and tired. The children that once were young are now grown and making memories and life for themselves. My heart yearns for the memories I once loved to return to in my mind once again. Memories can bring us joy and sorrow at the same time. All these things brought into account have led me to the true meaning and the very simple truth of the resurrection. It is not our families, food, clothes, the Good Friday and Sunrise Services, and especially the Easter baskets filled with eggs and hiding them. Not even the fond memories we once had. It is the simple fact that Christ was crucified for my sins. He was the eternal sacrifice for my sins, even before I was born and the sins of the whole world from Adam and Eve and even the sins of those who come until the end of time. Christ sacrificed and forgave each and every one of us on a crewel cross with his life's blood and his fleshly body one day over 2000 years ago. It did not end with his death on the cross though. He marked time in history by his resurrection from death to life. There is no other account in history like that of Christ. Even the massive stone that was sealed and guarded by soldiers could not keep him in the tomb. He showed himself alive to those who witnessed his death personally and to those who would not believe unless they actually touched and felt his hands and side. Victory over death and the grave was in Him. The promise of life eternal is made real to those who believe and accept his teachings even today. Do you believe? Jesus said seek me and you shall find me. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 melanie gilliam yates 2007 |
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