A few weeks ago Caleb said to me with a gasp, "Mom guess what we forgot to do at Christmas?" I expected him to say something like, "We didn't make homemade sugar cookies" or "Go see Santa". Really I knew it wasn't Santa (Caleb thinks Santa is too intrusive, making naughty/nice lists) but I couldn't imagine what childhood treasured memory I had left out. I stiffened, waiting..."The EGGS!" he said emphatically.
He was referring to our Resurrection Eggs. Each egg has a symbol of the Easter Story with a bible verse to read with the kids a couple weeks before Easter. I told him not to worry, it was yet to come!
Easter, a time to stop pensively at the cross. I see the invitation of one with His arms outstretched and His body writhing to give me a second chance to be free from my own desolation and begin again with God. It is only part of the story.
After I see my great need for this sacrifice of incredible love, I can not stop there. The arms are still open wide while the debris in my thought life, the hurtful deeds and words of my past, and my future are transferred to the Son. The Son who removes my guilt forever from the Father's check list. And still the story is not over.
I see the arms still open. I crawl to be nearer. The closer I get to the open arms the safer I feel from myself. From the world. I sense the new life in store for me. The mystery of it awakens me and I know the arms have wrapped snug around me.
Secure. Nothing can snatch me from these hands. It is in this moment I ask to be let go. The arms gently let me down. Without the constant nearness, doubts try to sneak in and troubles try to shake me.
It is always there though. The Cross. The open arms. I creep back to them. To Him. There I am reassurred of the hope now and the yet to come.
Looking forward to Resurrection Eggs and the yet to come!
