† Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! -Luke 24:5-6 †

 † HALLELUJAH! He is Risen Indeed! †

Winter escaped us entirely this year. Truly. It just never came after the leaves fell in October and on most days over the last few weeks, we’ve found ourselves still waiting for it. But Spring is here either way. Without apology. And, sometimes, I think that’s exactly how life is. The fullness or absence of seasons, that is. While there are times we wait and wait and wait, there are other times when we’re not ready just yet…but it’s here. Ready or not. Those words so familiar to you and I who have spent your entire life playing some version of hide-n-seek. When you were so very little it was mostly me saying those words…and your tiny voice from behind the trees of our field saying “Reyydy Mama” as you’d try to run with your too-big-for-you basket trying to spot those eggs.

It’s hard to believe you and I have done this for fourteen years together. So hard. On the way to church this morning, Dad asked if you were going to drive us there yourself next year…and I blinked back the visceral response I felt when he said that. But it’s incredibly likely you will. I’m purposefully not going to do the math or look up to see which date Easter falls next year, but…wow. Wow, time.

You are the truest form of joy, and the greatest treasure your Dad and I have. And I know how crazy blessed I am that you still indulge me to do this…tiny Easter hat and all. But for those who really, really know us, it’s not all that strange: “Mom, if I can make it fit, I’ll wear it as an adult,” you laugh aloud with me as you hear yourself say it. What a wonderful gift to not take yourself so seriously and to cherish being a kid as long as you can!

On Saturday night, when all three of us were overly late to bed due to an incredibly busy week, you asked if we could still read the Easter Story. We’d not been able to do it together Friday, but, of course, the answer was yes. We laid belly down on the ground and I flipped to the back of the gospels and you said, “Let’s read from John, actually. Matthew is so good, but I just read it, so can you read it to me from John?” As I read, sometimes I’d pause to add my commentary, but only in-between all the times you said, “Mom, stop for a second,” so you could add yours. We read it together sharing our thoughts and amazement at the whole thing, and then stopped at the tomb…knowing exactly how it ends. Sunday is COMING. It was promised and it happened. And it’s the best reminder of how to think when our minds race with worry. He is here with us always and He is THERE already. And all we have to remember, when our souls feels heavy, is that Sunday is coming. Whether or not we’ve been waiting, or we aren’t even ready yet. It’s coming. Hallelujah!

Though we know that it’s not the eggs, the candy, the bunny, or all that glitters pastel that ever matter today, we’ll still smile for it.

As for Easter: Death cannot hold us. Jesus is truth. He turns graves into gardens. And He is love. But best of all, He is Risen! 

Happiest Easter to you, my sweet forever-bunny. ♥ And to all of you too! xx S , J, + E.

For the curious: Eli’s previous Easter Egg Hunts:

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen