It was a great weekend. A good Good Friday. Cool Baby’s first Easter.
We went to church — the early service! (but not the sunrise one) And we were pretty much on time, too. The boy might have been the finest-dressed person in church that wasn’t wearing shoes.
We even took pictures, but not because it was Easter. It was for a lesser miracle: all three of us were dressed up.
For the last 8 years or so, I haven’t truly celebrated Christmas or Easter. I mean, we’ll have the parties and lunches. Christmas had the decorations and the gifts. But I can’t say that I was feeling “the spirit” of those holidays.
When I was a kid, I watched the clock on Good Friday and when 12:00 pm hit, I felt a sudden feeling of solemnity and reverence because almost 2000 years earlier, Jesus died at that time. Well, history says he died at 3:00 pm and the time zones are different, but my sentiment was right. This year, I was probably eating lunch and reading you guys’ blogs at noon.
By God’s grace, I celebrate Jesus’ resurrection more than just once a year. I praise God for it at worship services and during prayer and when I’m convicted of sin. But I feel sorta guilty that on the weekend that’s publicly declared as the time to celebrate his resurrection, I’m not going all out.
In the Bible, the God-appointed holidays were very important. Easter and Christmas are more self-appointed for Christians. While I think that God smiles when we celebrate those holidays, I don’t think He’s disappointed if we instead celebrate in our hearts throughout the year. Am I wrong here?
With the boy around now, the holidays will be a big deal again. But I want to remember this “dry spell” and make sure I learn what there is to learn from it.
(photo: **Mary**)
Related posts:
- Christmas bloggings
- This week doesn’t feel much holier than the others
- “The (Santa) Talk”
- The joy of the Lord on Holy Saturday
- What’s to be done with this Jesus?
where are the family pics?? come on…
we’ll see what we can get together
I hear you. I have much more solemnly celebrated communion lately with my community. I am just as broken and caught in a struggle to live out this Christianity as the next guy…but remembering how God put on skin and paid our immense debt is something that should be on our minds daily.
I attended a huge Episcopalian church downtown with a handful of friends on Sunday morning, mostly because we were intrigued by the architecture and the traditional liturgy. I noticed my friend Brandon and I were both staring up at the architecture and stained glass windows during the service. It reminded me of the God is truly awe-inspiring, to be reflected not only in our buildings but in our lives, as living, breathing, moving sanctuaries of His presence and glory.
My husband and I talked about this very thing a lot this Easter season. Him, as a Pastor, is plagued by all the to-do’s to put this Holiday function on, when in reality – HIS resurrection should be a big deal every day! Yes, there is something to celebrating the one moment in history. But I live in freedom each day because of that one moment. That deserves honor, respect, reverence, and reflection each and every day.
Did you follow any of that???
All that to say…yup, I agree!