This was one of the questions posed this past week by Joyce, who blogs at From This Side of the Pond in here weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge Challenge where she poses weekly blogging prompts.
Like many, I love Easter in that is marks the end of the long dark winter season and heralds the beginning of spring. Here where I live, spring has not yet fully sprung, but the hyacinths are blooming and the grass is turning green, and some days we even enjoy sunshine and warmer temperatures. I love the excuse to indulge in my passion for all things chocolate . . . though there are no chocolate Easter Bunnies at my house this year, I have spent my fair share at the stores for varied brands of chocolate candies. There are no little children at home to buy new Easter outfits for, but it is still fun to see all of the pretty dresses in the stores.
Yes, my children are grown and for the most part the chicks have flown from the nest. I'm a veteran Mom, and have passed through the nearly thirty years of caring for six children. I'm proud of my children, and of the good people they have become, but sometimes it feels even harder to be a Mom of Adults who are mostly far from home.
It is much easier to cheer up the little ones with a hug, a kiss, a story, a song, a bandaid, a cookie or a treat and a pat on the head. It's just a bit harder to fix the ahh ohh's and the boo boo's when you are not close at hand, and when the problems can be a bit tougher to fix. The love is still there, though, and so are the daily thoughts and prayers and hopes and wishes for all six and their loved ones to have the very best and to be happy.
It is very comforting on an Easter Morning to know that our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ are there, loving my children, listening to them, and ready to help them with the dear old Mom cannot. They know my children even better than I do, they love them with an even purer love, and I know that Christ can understand whatever problems and challenges that my children are facing better than anyone anywhere, because he has suffered and gone through it all too.
I love Him. I am forever in awe of his love, his mercy, and his willingness to suffer the Atonement for us all; for me, for my kids and for all of those we love, and even for those who we haven't quite learned to love very well yet too.
I feel so very blessed this Easter Sunday, even though life can be discouraging and the world is not always a very happy place. Today I am blessed to once again share my gratitude with an entire Sunday School class, and with all of you! Happy Easter! Christ is the Lord! He is Risen! Shout it out to everyone!
And I Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and unto none else can the ends of the law gen answered. . . . there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
