“What is Easter?” Funny, isn’t it? Funny how we take our holidays for granted and don’t even think about them and yet there are still people who have never heard what its about. I got to tell Aya about Maundy Thursday, the quick and illegal trial, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. I told her how this one event changed our worship day from Saturday to Sunday…and then she stopped me with a quizzical look and said, “but what about the eggs and candy?” Yes, eggs and candy. Paganizing faith to make it go down easy. We talked about that for a bit and then I invited her and her boyfriend to church for Easter and our house for a meal. I hope they come.
This week brought an ugly sense of entitlement and selfishness to me as well. Any pregnant military spouse 32 weeks or later that is not from America or is a critical case from Japan got flown here to have their baby. They are staying in 3 different locations, most unaccompanied and knowing no one. What do I think? Oh man, Im gonna be like Mary with no room at the Inn! Annabelle is going to have high expectations when she emerges from the stable smelling like hay! How is the hospital going to support all these babies when I’ve heard they were too short staffed already? We have been asked to prepare meals for these displaced moms so I made some cookies and went to drop them off…at the Inn, no joke. As I watched each one take their food and dessert I was humbled. Humbled that the mercy of the Lord via the military was overlooked and ignored by me. “I just wanted to thank you for doing this for all of us, we really appreciate it.” I think I gave her a deer in the headlights look. “Yes, of course! We are happy too!” Yeah…what a needed slap on the face and heart for me.
I’ve been reading books about trusting God and practicing the presence of God only to outright ignore what I’ve “learned” in the face of these circumstances. “Man, you guys have had one heck of an introduction to the military!” This was a side comment made by my CO’s wife and it made me stop and think…you know, the Lord really has shown His faithfulness, kindness, and provision through each crazy event to get us here. Why should I ever doubt that He won’t provide for us now? Even if its in a way that I can never imagine? So we wait…trusting, learning, and curious to how this will all unfold. This Easter will definitely be one to remember and to tell our future generations of how the faithfulness and forgiveness of the Lord through the death and resurrection of the Savior, rose again in my heart.