Early Morning Thoughts...

I'm sitting at the computer, watching it snow!  Big, beautiful, fluffy flakes, on March 25 no less!  Daffodils are blooming, as are the Bradford Pears...kind of pretty, amongst the snow.  Last week I sported shorts and flip-flops.  It was in Florida, to be sure, but it's somewhat relevant because it has been a strange spring there, as well.  One day:  warm, almost hot...next day:  cool, windy, rainy.  Not typical of our picture-perfect springtime with warm days and for sure, no snow :)

Although Spring officially begins March 20 or 21st, my wise mother always waited til Mother's Day to begin springtime planting, gardening, etc.  Experience had taught her not to believe it was actually here too early on.  I am ALWAYS tempted to hit the garden centers as soon as we have one warm day...but I've learned, the hard way, what can happen.  Money down the drain, as well as time and effort, when we get those gardens started too soon.  There will be more cold...and freezes...and even snow!  So I'll wait this year.

Easter will be here Sunday, and I've been thinking lots about this most important day.  Without Christ's resurrection, Christianity would have no meaning.  We would have no chance at eternal life.  The story would be incomplete.  We can get caught up in deep theology when thinking and discussing Easter, but boiling it down to the simple fact that Jesus died for us, with all our sins upon Him, then was raised from the dead to live forever and to allow us to live forever is what it's all about.  I told Barrett the story last week, in 3-year-old words...then followed it up reading the Easter story from his Bible story book.  He got a sad look on his face when we read about the crucifixion...then smiled widely when Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden.  Alive again!  Wonderful news.  He understood, as well as a little child can, that Jesus died and was buried but came to life again on Easter Sunday.  He'll understand better, by and by.  And what all this means for him in his life.

This Holy Week we'll focus on Jesus' last days and on His sacrifice for us...on His experiences, His suffering, His words, His death and His Resurrection.  Sobering times followed by joy.  One end of the spectrum to the other.  Like days in springtime, from cold and freezing to warm and sunny, we will experience it all.  And just like springtime, we will come through this week with a bright outlook for our futures.  We may go through times of suffering, disappointment, questions without answers and come through these times with bright hopes for our futures.

Thank you, God, for springtime...for a time of renewal, of beginning again.  Thank you for Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for us.  Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives!