Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

There are a few songs that come to me when I'm inclined to sing aloud: Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells and Here Comes Peter Cottontail are some of the most popular. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, those are typically my go to songs. Sometimes I wonder why something more appropriate or new...or even grown up doesn't pop into my head, but I usually just roll along with one of the above.

As I was sorting laundry today Peter Cottontail was number one on the chart; I guess it was appropriate as Easter is this Sunday. Although, when Sunday rolls around I could very well be singing Winter Wonderland.

Ah-Easter. Memories flood my mind as I recall growing up Easter Sunday included Mamaw's fried chicken, deviled eggs and the annual Egg Hunt in the front yard of her East Texas home. All the usual hiding places were utilized: in the downspout, under huge magnolia tree leaves, in the cart pulled by the cement donkey. New outfit, church and family. Good food and an after meal walk on the old oil roads. I even remember the smell of those hard boiled eggs that sat in my basket for weeks...

This year I'm thinking we better get to church early and dust off the pews for the ChrEasters that will be arriving for one of the two services they attend each year- Christmas and Easter. Hopefully we'll have a full crowd! I'm confident the sermon will be on point, but I wonder if it will be around Mark 16. That would be more than fine with me! I love that story! I know it by heart! I wonder if the ChrEaster's do too...since they hear it so often. But do they understand that there are many other amazing stories they miss? Surely they know Jesus was born in a manger to a virgin and that He wasn't in the tomb...but what about the rest of the stories? Do they know about them?

Do the folks who only go to church twice a year, unless there's a wedding or a funeral, know about Moses and all he went through? What about David, how great he was and how he struggled? Have they heard about Paul and his incredible transformation? Surely they've heard about Noah, but what about all the details that aren't typically portrayed in children's books and printed materials? He and his animals were not always smiling... Having only been to church a few times, have they missed the story of Job, the person not a place of work, and how he stayed faithful through satan's tortures for seven years and then got his socks blessed off once his trials ended? Do they know about Ruth? She actually loved her mother in law! Can they fathom how wide the red sea had to be parted for thousands of people to cross it? Can someone who has never heard the whole story of Easter understand why He wasn't in the tomb? Do they know what He went through before He was placed there? It wasn't even His tomb, do they know?

I could keep going, there are so many beautiful, sorrowful, wonderful, heart-wrenching, struggles and victories in this book! So much sacrifice, and blessing and trials and love. I could read it a thousand times and get something new from it every time. I could hear someone tell stories from it hundreds of times and learn more and more with every version. It would be hard to pick a favorite, or even the most important part of this love letter to us. It's all valuable.

Just incase you haven't heard, or you aren't a bonafide ChrEaster, the Easter story is so much more than can be taught in one forty five minute session once a year. I could write a book on it...Ha! The best one has already been written.

Bunnies are cute and chocolate is tasty, but there is so much more to Easter. If you've not become one of the valued ChrEaster's, I pray you join up this Sunday. You charter members, your seat will be ready for you. Next Sunday too! There'll be a whole new story then!

As I finish up the laundry I'll sing another favorite loud and proud! Jesus Loves Me...this I know, for the Bible tells me so...

~St. Mark 16: 15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." That goes for us too! (Hint: it's also part of the Easter story.)