I have come to a sad reality since moving away from my immediate and extended family that if I want a holiday to be special at all anymore, it's up to me to do something about it. All my life when I woke up on Easter morning, it was Mom, Dad, and Grandma that had everything under control. The colored eggs, the Easter baskets, the gourmet Sunday dinner at Grandma's house.... I showed up and had a great time! I enjoyed my easter candy for days on end and had another great Easter.
This Easter I woke up and asked Joe, "Do you think the Easter bunny came to our house this year?" Sure didn't! Why? Because I'm 26 years old and I live four states away from my Easter bunny! That's why! We stuck our bottom lips out in sadness and then Joe agreed to make us some Easter pancakes so the morning was somewhat cool. Thankfully, our good friends, the Shepards, invited us over to enjoy their gourmet Easter dinner with them. We were spoiled with good food and good company.
At church, Joe and I got to sing "This is the Christ" in the choir. This is a beautiful piece and tribute to the Savior. We have performed it with Joe's immediate family before and I was delighted to actually be familiar with the song on the first day of practice some weeks ago. The spirit was very strong as we sang our testimonies of the risen Lord. The talks in Sacrament meeting were also amazing. The topic: of course, Christ's atonement and resurrection. I was reminded in a very personal way that the atonement is for me and it's not just for remission of sins; it's to be used for comfort. Christ knows how to comfort each of us, better than anyone else, because he went through every pain we feel. I could barely keep myself together (without crying) during the entire meeting. Last night, I read the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5. This was another reminder to me of Christ's mercy and love for us; He never gives up on us. If we're having trouble, he moves us to a new place or tries to help us be-rid of that which is slowing our progress and our ability "to produce fruits." Christ never says, "You're just not worth it" no matter how carnal and derailed we may be. As our sacrament meeting speaker said yesterday, "YOU are the one He sacrificed for." I believe I reflected more on the true meaning of Easter this year as I was without some of the usual traditions. In that way, it was an extra special Easter.
PS- Is it ridiculous that I'm 26 and still want an Easter basket?? I just don't think I'm old enough to be the one in charge of holidays. Miss you Mom and Grandma!!
4 comments:
Thanks for that amazing post Nat! That is the exact message Danny was hoping to relay out into words and I guess he did it! :) It was an amazing Easter reminder huh?
I don't think it's ridiculous at all! I make Jeremy one every year, and every year I remind him that I expect one as well. I hate letting go of holiday traditions I had as a kid, so I try to keep them up.
I feel the same way. I really go all out for Halloween, but when St. Patrick's Day and Easter roll around I want my Mom and Dad to be in charge haha. Traditions are what make the holidays so fun, but sometimes it's hard to get into it when it's just you and your husband.
Our church service yesterday also hit me in a personal way. Funny how you can hear the same thing over and over and then it finally clicks!
Glad all is well, looks like you two are living it up!
I've been coming to that realization too! :( Thank goodness for pancake-making husbands at least, right?
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