Jesus Believes in us ... Happy Easter!

Reflecting upon Easter this year, I find myself thinking that perhaps Easter means that Jesus believes in us … Believes in us so much that He was willing to lay His life on the line for our salvation. With that kind of backing:  how we can we not keep hope?  So count your blessings, find happiness in the moment unfolding at hand and May God's Blessing be upon you and yours this Easter, or as my kids would say "Happy Easter!"

Misfit, that is ME ...

Easter is this very weekend ... "I am not ready for Easter."  Well, that’s what my rational, thinking brain says.  My heart says, “Easter is a gift!”  You don’t have to be ‘ready’ for a gift, right?  You just accept it, embrace it … show gratitude for what you’ve been given  … And ‘Forgiveness’ that’s some awesome gift, is it not?

Perhaps, Easter serves as a reminder to each of us that we need to pass this amazing gift of ‘Forgiveness’ along to others in our lives.  I, personally, have found that forgiveness can change lives, so pass it on! I think this world could be a better place with more forgiveness.

"Misfit that is ME"

Photo By My Daughter, Bethany.

With this reflection, perhaps the misfit that is me is ready for Easter after all?  Happy Easter, ya’ll!!  May you feel our Creator’s warm embrace this Easter weekend and may Jesus’s willingness to die for our sins encourage each of us to embrace Forgiveness in our own lives.  He's not waiting for us to be 'perfect'; He'll take us just the way we are.  =)

                                               

Peace & Much Love,

M

"Good Friday:  Shadow of Death"

Photo By ME & EJ

P.S. Interestingly enough, it seems that Orthodox religions will celebrate Easter next weekend and not this weekend.   Maybe that's why I don't feel ready?  I'm just not spiritually in alignment with the calender of Western Christian Religions?  ... Well it's a thought .... Here's a link with additional reading on the differences between the two calenders and rationale behind each, if you're interested in knowing more.

Rebirth, Forgiveness & Happiness (Flying!) ...

I've thought about it long and hard this Easter ... What does Easter truly mean to me?  My kids are older now.  They're not into coloring Easter eggs.  They don't believe in the Easter Bunny.  Egg Hunts have begun to lose their appeal.  So I thought, what can I gift my daughters for Easter this year?  And it came to me that I could share with them what Easter truly means to me ... Beyond the story ... the symbolism ... What it means to open your heart and embrace the gift that we receive at Easter.  And this is what I came up with ...

Spring is a time of rebirth as life all around us awakens from winter's slumber with new growth, vigor and vitality.  So to me it is fitting that Easter also falls within this season of 'Spring', for each of us is reminded, merely by opening our eyes and seeing the beauty in the world around us, of the potential for rebirth in our own lives.  Maybe some of us have been in our own spiritual winter, but it's never to late:  Today is a NEW DAY!  You can make a conscious choice to put the past behind, to embrace the hope of rebirth and to begin this day to lead the life you were meant to lead.  God, our Creator, wants you to be happy and he's given you the keys ... Maybe some of us have misplaced them, but with a little effort one can find them again ... Then, it's up to you to use them.

"Rebirth" ... Photo By My Daughter Beth = : )

@Copyrighted Image.  All Rights Reserved.

Whether you believe in Jesus, or not,  God's gift of forgiveness is still yours to embrace.  You have only to ask for it in your heart and mind, with true faith, and in doing so you throw off the weights of this materialistic world, open your wings and begin to fly ... And just maybe, as you are searching your own heart and mind for forgiveness of your sins, you will find it within you to perhaps forgive someone else who has wronged you in some way.  Maybe we, all of us, hold the keys to forgiveness?



God's gift of Peace, Love & Light to all who pass this way. 
A Blessed Easter to You and Yours,

~M


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P.S.  If you need a laugh:  While at mass yesterday, for Easter, we renewed our baptismal vows ... after which the minister sprinkles Holy Water over the congregation.  My oldest rolls her eyes at the silly symbolism in her mind.  My middle daughter is alarmed ... "I don't want to get wet!  It will leave spots on my silk dress."  But my youngest smiles broadly and exclaims, "COOL!  I won't have to take a shower tonight!"