Opinion : Happy Easter!

Hopefully, most of you will be able to spend time with your family this weekend.  The kids will be able to enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt provided by the local Kiwanis Club with the help of the residents at Windsor Manor and the Easter Bunny of course. 

Traditions are something that you don't realize until you're a bit older that you can look back on with a fond memory. Easter was always a time for the new Easter dress, and shiny new patten leather shoes. I also knew that the traditional Sunday roast would be switched out for a ham. 

I knew that the Sunday service would be filled with the traditional Easter hymns because you can only sing, "Up from the grave He arose" on Easter. 

I honestly don't remember many Easter Egg hunts but rather an Easter basket with the hollow, chocolate bunny or the cream filled chocolate eggs. I also remember it was usually a Sunday that my dad, an over-the-road trucker would be home for. 

I also remember his off tune singing on our way to church and the Easter that it snowed so much that we couldn't go anywhere. 

But I suppose I'm so used to knowing the reason for Easter that I fail to stop and recognize it like I should. 

A video crossed my screen that someone shared of a little boy who not understanding the reason for this Easter parade jumped into action to protect Jesus as he was paraded down the street and Roman guards pretended to beat him.  I kind of feel like that little boy. It seems like for no apparent reason, labels are tossed around and those who believe in Jesus are mocked and belittled daily. We're often treated as we're uncaring and I'd say that 99% of the time that's just not true. Granted, like in EVERY sect there are the weirdos. 

However, had there not been a Jesus who had a miserable Friday. there wouldn't be the Jesus who showed up on Sunday. But because He showed up again, the whole narrative flipped. There is now something to look forward to, beyond our day to day. There's the day that will come beyond our worst Friday. 

Because He lives, we can face the Saturday, the Sunday, the terrible no good Mondays and so on. 

Be sure to check out a local church this weekend, even if you don't normally go. Start a new tradition. For those that are there every Sunday, look for those visitors and give them a warm welcome!

Click to see the events happening this weekend!