He Is Risen Indeed!

Yesterday started out like a typical Sunday . Church was awesome, of course, and had a great time of worship - but that's not unusual for any Sunday at McGregor. Of course because it was Easter, we had dinner with family and friends and had a great afternoon. We got home around 6pm and we were already dragging. Jonathan wanted to know when we were going to color eggs because the night before Samuel fell asleep and we didn't want to do it without him. (Please don't tell my mom & dad we color eggs) : ) David was waiting to play a game with Dave that he had promised earlier, and I was beginning to feel anxious about putting my head on the pillow at night and feeling the guilt of not sitting with the boys and telling the Easter story. (especially knowing that every time I asked Samuel what Easter was, he replied, "I don't know", no matter how many times I told him).

We finally sat down to tell the Easter story using the Resurrection Eggs (a dozen colorful, plastic eggs that have items inside, each telling a different part of the Easter story). Thankfully Dave was on his game, because those boys can ask some deep theological questions - but at 9pm, and being tired, that is not easy. When we got to the egg that had the praying hands, Dave explained how Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, and how He asked God if at all possible to take this cup from Him. Well, David wanted to know, if Jesus was God, why couldn't He have chosen another way for us to be forgiven of our sins. And although we didn't have all the answers for him, we had a great discussion and saw my kids have a hunger to know the truth. We talked about WHY this was so hard for Jesus. We of course talked about how we will have to pick up and move to a new place, and how hard that will be, but to think about the home that Jesus left, to come and sacrifice Himself for us. Jesus had a perfect home before, and now He has to enter a world of sin, but not only that, He has to bear the burden of that sin for all the world, past, present, AND future. The boys were listening intently. We talked about how short this life is and the pilgrimage we are on - How our focus needs to be on Jesus and not our current lives, and how we will have Eternity to spend with the friends we leave behind. David quickly piped in and said, "Yeah, we'll get to spend Eternity with our old friends AND our new friends from Arkansas!" Just a week ago, I asked David to write out his feelings about moving, and after much crying and frustration, this is what he wrote, "I feel purely miserable about going to Arkansas. Though my parents have tried to make it easier for me, I can't stand the thought of leaving everyone I know. I pray to God to strengthen me through this time of temptation."

As we continued our Easter story, we got to the egg that had a spear in it. Samuel said, "I know what that's for! That's when they pierced Him!" I asked Samuel what He was pierced for, and he quickly responded, "He was pierced for our transgressions!" Then Jonathan continued to quote , "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5" Dave and I looked at each other and just smiled! What a great time we had, and to think we almost missed it.

As the boys were getting ready for bed, I took a white plate that we have on a stand on our counter, and wrote with a dry erase marker, "HE IS RISEN INDEED!" When David came out and saw it, he shouted "YES, HE IS RISEN INDEED!" I am so looking forward to seeing what our risen Savior will do in the life of that little boy. He struggles so much in in his flesh, but has such a passion for the Lord. But God is faithful, and He promises to complete the work He has started in each one of us.

All to the Glory and Honor of our Risen Savior!!!!!