It's about that time again....  No.  I do not worship the Easter Bunny - or Big Bird, or super heroes, as fantastic and perhaps addicting as they might be to some.  I don't even worship music or photography, though I enjoy them tremendously!  I have not taught my kids that hunting eggs and watching chicks hatch is what Easter means. In fact I have very much "preached" the opposite.  

Yes.  I am aware of the pagan practices that preceded Easter and sought to make a mockery of the power of the risen Christ.  They failed.  They did not win.  They will not prevail.  Yes.  I believe that Jesus conquered sin and death and rose triumphantly on the 3rd day after He was cruelly nailed to a cross - for the sins of all humanity and unto the glory of God almighty!  Yes, I believe His love continues through the years and ages and is effective today in our lives if we but give our hearts to Him and accept the miraculous gifts He offers.  

These pictures include some very sweet memories for me.  It is my grandparents's farm.  As of last month we have lost them both, grandma being the last to pass from us.  The tradition to gather family, enjoy food - and play, will continue at this spot where I spent much of my childhood.  It happened to include a massive egg hunt for the kids!  My uncle Bobby has acquired the farm and plans to keep the tradition alive.

I know, after reading in later years, about some of the wicked practices and symbolism that supposedly introduced the ideas of decorating eggs and glorifying the very opposite of a living, loving God.  It seems that evil always wants to counter and even steal the meaning from truly Christian-based celebrations.  The Christmas "holy day" too has counterfeit and paralleled distractions and intentions, as does All Saints Day and probably many others.  

However, I believe that whether we hide eggs or watch Big Bird on TV, as long as God is glorified, then pagan traditions have no power in our hearts and lives.  Eggs are beautiful creations of God.  So are prisms and rainbows and colors and even pyramids and crystals.  If we do not use them for evil intent, then it would seem to me that God should be credited for the good they might bring to us, His children.

Those Easter Sundays, when our family met in order to both celebrate the Jesus we love and the gift of family and gratitude for the joys of life, were some of the most memorable days of my childhood.  Their stories continue through the years, and the home, back yard and fields surrounding that farm house still whisper something powerful about God's love for His people coming together.  I don't assume that everyone who visited on those days were believers, but I know my grandparents' love for God was deep and strong.  Their intentions were to share the love and light of Christ...and it has indeed stayed in my heart.  The eggs and bunnies?  Still sweet.  Still beautiful because God made them all.  But still secondary and even unnecessary compared to the reason we gathered.  

Jesus' life, death and resurrection brought US life!  He bought forgiveness, grace and the joy of living as believers with others who are like-minded.  He has shown us how to love, live and share those virtues with a broken world.  For His sake, may we dwell together in unity acknowledging His amazing grace and goodness and hold out encouraging arms to those who have yet to hear that good news.