EASTER MEMORIES

A new Easter dress — how wonderful to put on that new dress and feel special.  It would become the “Sunday” dress.  Back then we had play clothes (they could get dirty), school clothes (changed into play clothes as soon as we got home), and church clothes (barely plural, usually two outfits that were reserved for church).

Easter Candy — there were no big baskets of candy.  We put a napkin in the bottom of a pie pan and each of us put our pan in a secret place.  We knew the bunny would find it.  Sure enough!!  One chocolate bunny (but not always) and jelly beans.  When I became a mother, my kids never knew there were black jelly beans.  I love black licorice..  To save any confusion as to what pan had the most red jelly beans, I would sort their candy into piles — green, green — red, red — yellow, yellow — white, white — and the black ones into my stack.  I do think they had baskets a couple of years, but the pie pan worked for me so it worked for them.  Besides, baskets cost more than the candy.

Easter Cantata — Christmas and Easter meant the choirs kicked it up more than one notch.  You will find this hard to believe, but I was in the youth choir.  If you have ever sat next to me in church you will know, without a doubt, that the youth choir HAD to allow all youth the opportunity to take music in hand and sing. I always wondered if they changed that rule after the experience of me being in the choir.  The cantata was full of wonder, as it went from the shout of “Give Us Barabbas” to the dark sound of the Cross to the triumphant “He Is Risen.”  The Easter Cantata transformed the voices of our church choir into the sweet sound of angels.  And, of course, the Cantata was over in plenty of time to get everyone home to check on the ham roasting in the oven.  

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

I KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST CHILD, THE SON OF GOD.

• ““But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.””     Matthew‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW JESUS WAS ABSOLUTELY AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS TO DO WHILE ON EARTH AND HE TOLD HIS FATHER, “NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE DONE.”

• “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.””       Mark‬ ‭14:23-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”     Luke‬ ‭22:42-44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW HOW TO FIND GOD AND I KNOW MY ROOM IS READY.

• “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”     John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””     John‬ ‭14:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW MY CHIRST DID NOT STAY IN THE GRAVE!  I KNOW MY CHRIST GAVE US ALL A JOB!  I KNOW MY CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN!

• “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ””  Luke‬ ‭24:5-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””   Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”   Luke‬ ‭24:50-51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

MAY YOUR EASTER BE BLESSED AND MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN YOUR SOUL AND IN YOUR LIFE.