The Weeks of Easter.




When Lent began on Ash Wednesday, our Pastor (who is awesome) asked us to give up a few things.
Oh, we could give up the usual things like chocolate, or sweets, etc., but especially, he asked us to give up our anxieties, sadness, guilt, and sin.  Maybe because of this, and with God's help, this Lent and Easter season has been more meaningful than I can ever remember.  I've shared this with Ron and with some of my church family, but since you also know me, it was important to share it with you as well.

Admittedly, there were moments during those 40 days that I truly struggled with this.  Stephen would be leaving before Easter.  With Laurie still over there, my prayers were for her as she thought,  in a war zone, about her husband's deployment. As her mom I struggled with what she must be feeling. But on that day, when Stephen hugged us goodbye, (and as I wanted to keep holding on to him) the prayer I had been praying for weeks, (Please, Lord, let this happen without tears), was answered.  There were no tears until after he left, and they were not in front of Kasey. A few days  later, Laurie Skyped to say that the powers that be (thank you LORD) had managed for them to be able to spend some time together.  On Easter morning, they were still together.

The joy of Easter goes past that one Sunday after Good Friday.  The joy continues, and I am realizing more and more that the sadness, guilt, anxieties, and sin for which Jesus died are still ours- still mine -  to give up every single day. Not just during 40 days of the church year.  They ALL died on the cross with God's Son.
Moms worry - even Mary probably worried about Jesus....but they are calmed in the peace He brings to us. No matter what hurts or joys lie upon our hearts, God sees them....and hears them in our prayers, and brings us dear and wonderful Christian friends who pray with us, and who hug us in Christian love. He helps us past our own thoughts to hear and pray for what is on their hearts as well.  Not just the anxieties, but the joys too!  

Praying that His peace will also be in the hearts of our military men and women who are in the midst of war.  Or who are about to be in the midst of war - and in the hearts of those who love them. 
Every single day He helps me to realize more and more that Easter joy is not just a feeling..it is a blessed reality.
May you know this too.