Easter Message 2009
Today is Good Friday and I've
always wondered why they call it
Good Friday. There was nothing
"good" about that day so many
years ago. It was the day that
marked even more suffering for
Jesus. He was made fun of and
mocked again at his crucifixion,
he realized that several of His
friends truly had abandoned him
and weren't coming back, and we
all know the rest of the story
of the abuse and ultimate death
that He endured and how for a
split second even the Savior,
fully knowing His purpose, felt
forsaken.
I was mindful this week, though
it never really escapes me
anymore, the suffering that
occurs in so many lives and
there are such varying degrees
of suffering. Most people at
one time or another will or have
suffered because it is part of
this world unfortunately. We
have suffered in many ways, many
of which were familiar to
Christ. Friends do
abandon people in grief and
the more I listen to
people, this is not uncommon.
So many don't know what to say
and some think you need to "get
over it" and move on but mostly
they just don't
understand what grief does
to someone and what the loss of
a loved one means as you face
each and everyday. Some
unfortunately seem to be
heartless and uncaring
and don't seem to know the
meaning of true friendship. The
suffering and abuse of daily
living is a constant and
the feeling of being forsaken to
some degree nudges in there from
time to time. All of which were
feelings that Christ too felt.
The "good" part of Good Friday
comes from the sacrifice given.
If Christ hadn't suffered and
died there would be no Hope for
any of us and no truth of
Heaven! Christ proved that even
suffering and being broken
hearted in this life can't shake
the truth of eternity! Christ
lived it and breathed it and is
our example. That truth became
very real on Easter when He
walked this earth knowing that
He would ascend to a perfect
place where the experience of
this life would be no longer.
And so it is where we
also remain.......
Forever focused on Christ and
being eternally grateful for the
gifts and hope given during our
short stay here. Without the
gift of love and life where
would we be? The love I feel
for my husband, my daughters, my
soon-to-be son, my grandson, my
family, my friends, and our
precious Savior who is
the keeper of our soul and
our Em during this
separation, keeps a joy within
my heart. If we knew the
suffering that comes from such
love and loss would we still go
there? Absolutely! Love is
a wonderful thing. If we knew
that our Em would leave us at
the age of 16, would it still be
worth having her for a short
time? Oh, ABSOLUTELY!!! Because
our hope endures, even with the
worst of conditions. We find
ourselves looking forward to the
future and enjoying the gifts of
this life amidst the suffering.
Those gifts of love and life
have become even sweeter.
And so it is, a GOOD Friday.
Because death is no more!
Christ proved it with His love
and our Em is experiencing what
we can't even comprehend
or dream about. So if you,
yourselves are facing your own
trials and suffering because of
what this life can throw at you,
be mindful of the gifts of love
and of this life in the here and
now and remEMber that this life
is only temporary. Enjoy what
you have right now this Easter
season and be thankful to the
Lord that the best is yet to
come!
Happy Easter!!