Christ is Risen Indeed!

Easter morning, a day of celebration and reflection. For me, it is an anniversary, too. It was on Easter Sunday that I first felt the touch of God, his reaching out to me and me finally understanding that. Something in the words the pastor was saying led me out of my own wilderness and my heart opened to God at last. A few years later, I was baptized and celebrated the moment with my youngest son. As we came dripping from the pool, I was elated and filled with God's transforming love. I am so blessed that my mother and grandmother were with us that day. They are both gone, now, and living with Jesus in Paradise, but it was a tremendous bonding moment for me with my mother. Easter lives in my memory as a day of family, of egg hunts, of brightly colored dresses and hats, lacy socks and shiny shoes for going to church. Boys in dapper suits with hair combed neatly, moms in dresses and sleek purses that matched. Then an Easter feast, of ham and potato salad, a great group of family gathered in my grandmother's small dining room. It was festive, close, and loving. Easter is the day my grandfather passed and while our relationship was rocky to say the least, it was I who was asked to make the calls to family and notify everyone. Yes, Easter for me is a day filled with memories but also of hope, of love, of gratitude for Christ's willing sacrifice. It is an unimaginable act of will to me, that he chose that death on our behalf. I am grateful, blessed, awed and humbled. So, Happy Easter, and I hope that your day is filled with love and memories, too.