Winter arrived late this year and has been unyielding to spring. On Wednesday this past week, I – this one who loves the white fluff – wrote to a friend: “Easter in four days, and we still have several inches of snow on the ground. Wonder what those kiddos will do for an Easter egg hunt?”
Well, my kiddos are long grown. I’ve had my share of memorable Easters going to Grandma’s, attending church with family, coloring eggs and then hiding them umpteen times, and dawning those new white shoes. Even if the weather turned out cool and rainy, Easter seemed to solidify that spring really had arrived. So seeing snow still on the ground two days before Good Friday concerned me – concern for the ones who would have to hide those eggs. And I have to admit that I was ready for my beloved snow to leave. A blade of green grass might just be enough to spring life into my spirit with hope for renewal.
I wanted to post another blog, but something kept drawing me back to the last one I wrote, “I Can Face Tomorrow.” I re-read it and listened to the song repeatedly which resonated in my spirit – life really is worth living and I can make it. And then, my week was interrupted.
I found myself in the middle of helping a family return home after a tragic accident (no fault of their own) that left one of five children dead and two others injured along with the mother, who was recovering from critical injuries. The small part I played in helping them get home left me humbled, full of sympathy, and melted any hardness in my heart that might have formed over my previous difficult years. I was reminded of those busy days of caring for my three sons, the road trips and trying to make sure everything went smoothly, that they had a good time and were safe. I was reminded how fragile life really is and that sometimes we have to face blows where life is not kind or fair and we simply do not understand. But we have to go on – we have to face tomorrow – and we can.
I felt a little lonely this Easter morning. I missed my sons. They have their own lives. My heart still ached for this new family that crossed my path. I walked out onto the porch and looked over the pond that three days ago was still covered in snow and there was the most spectacular sun. I hadn’t taken time to notice the snow had finally melted. Easter egg hunts would go on, and life would go on.
The sun was so, so bright and glistened on the water. I was reminded that we do have hope for better days. The sun will rise and shine upon us again. God will give us grace to continue our journey even in those difficult times that we cannot understand and are unable to comprehend. And just as the song reminds us, someday we will see those lights of glory – some of us through death and others on that appointed day. Maybe it will be a day just like today.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 (NIV)
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