the real Easter

i am thankful that Easter means so much more to me than...
pretty dresses, eggs (both colored and candy), flowers, bunnies, baskets, a nice dinner, an even better dessert, hanging out with family, going to church

although i enjoy all of these things - what if Easter was only these things? it wouldn't mean a whole lot. it would be easy to get lonely, down, or depressed if you didn't have the money or family to make it special. i was battling some negative feelings on this beautiful Easter day until i put things into perspective and focused on the "real" Easter....
the cross, my sins, the resurrection, my eternal life

i am also thankful that my daughter seems to understand and accept the truth about Easter.
here is a smippet of the conversation we had yesterday while i was making potato salad and she was "doing" the dishes...

"mom, do people in china celebrate Easter" - she is somewhat obsessed with china since the olympics

"yes- some people in china celebrate Easter. but did you know that there are many countries where most people don't celebrate Easter because they don't believe in Jesus?"

"we believe in Jesus"

"yes, we do"

pause...."well...i think we should pray that other people will believe in Jesus like we do and then they can celebrate Easter"

"yes. we should."

i also explained that the Easter Bunny is not the one bringing her eggs and a basket. why not? she said. i said it's because he wants to be at church on Easter celebrating the "real" Easter instead of hiding eggs and delivering baskets.

"...the JOY of the LORD is my strength..."