Sunday, April 8, 2012

What did you wear for Easter this year?


For anyone who doesn’t know me, you should know, I am fiercely competitive. I have been known to occasionally… often be sarcastic, (however, I prefer the term witty, thanks honey) somewhat head strong,  (I just can’t say stubborn, it has such a bad reputation) and lastly I may be a teensy weensy bit of a perfectionist.                       Feels so freeing to be self aware!

With all that said, you may now better understand me and one of my own personal, self made dilemmas. (Yes, I have more than one!) I am a mother of six; six beautiful, gifted, loving individuals. I am blessed beyond measure, I truly am. I know this, I at least try to know and to never forget this.  You see, I am aware how flawed I am; how often I fail, or fall short of who God wants me to be, who He created me to be.  I know I am so undeserving, thankfully I am not required to be… (Isn’t Jesus awesome?)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

And, I know I am not alone, none of us are….

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

You see, my dilemma is this; for many years, fifteen Easters to be exact, I made certain that my children’s outfits matched at Easter. Now that I look back(even just a year ago) I’m not sure why I did this. It always seemed so important, almost urgent at the time… every single time!  Whether the dresses, vests, sweaters, etc. were store bought or homemade by my mother in law or mom, my kids matched. (I must take a moment to pause here, I feel as though I probably owe my oldest an apology… The only boy for twelve years, three younger sisters, pastel Easter colors… you get the gist.) Whether homemade or store bought I ran around frantically, dragging my kids in and out of stores, in and out of the car just to find matching outfits or matching fabrics for them all to wear.(Note, this became more difficult with each child.) This “tradition,” was so imperative that one year, out of sheer desperation, I wore bright pink! I don’t much care for pink, I’m not a pink kinda gal… I’m a bold, dark colors kind of female. But alas, pink is all we could find(Side note- the day before Easter is NOT the time to shop for matching outfits, on a budget, for eight people… Hello God, were You saying something?) so I endured, I sacrificed, I wore pink for the cause of matching. Why? Well, because it’s essential to Easter, right? Because it really, really matters, right? It’s required, yes that’s it, it must have been a requirement. Wrong! Nope, not at all… and let’s not even discuss the amount of money I’ve spent. (Great, now that I think about it, I have another thing to ask forgiveness for.)

 I know to many this may seem like a simple, small, minute thing, but it isn’t. It’s just another thing, another meaningless distraction in my life that takes me away from what TRULY matters. Away from DOING what truly matters, away from DOING what I am suppose to be doing. I have learned many things in the past year, and one very important thing I have learned; disobeying God isn’t always just what you’re doing, sometimes it’s what you’re NOT doing.  So, if I am consumed with finding matching outfits for my kids, then I am not spending quality time with them. I’m not taking the time to teach them the true meaning of Easter. Sure I read it to them. Of course we discuss it, but my actions say what to them? Actions speak louder than…  Yeah, you know how it goes.  If I am busying myself with meaningless tasks, squandering my precious God given time, then I am not following Jesus’ example. Remember when Mary and Joseph had been searching for Him? At twelve years old He knew what He was to be doing, to be busy with His Father’s business, shouldn’t we all?

“Why were you searching for me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49

Besides it being a colossal waste of my God given time, (five, six, seven hours each year, times fifteen years equals a lot of wasted time. Do the math…) However, I realize there is an even more important lesson to be learned from this;

That is, that Jesus isn’t concerned with whether or not my kid’s clothes are matching Easter morning when they walk into church. But I am certain He cares about how I have prepared them in life. Do they have on the full armor of God? And how about their hearts? What have they learned and what do they know about Easter? Do they understand the true meaning? Do they comprehend what He went through, what all He sacrificed for them, for us all? But most of all do they have a relationship with Him?

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One Who sent Me.” Matthew 10:40                       



I am notorious for being strict. I’m probably even considered a bit old fashioned, an ultra conservative homeschooling mom. (I’m good with it, it’s who I am.) So, I am prepared to have many people scoff once again at my words, as well as criticize the point I feel God was trying to make with me, so be it.  I don’t want to be a Pharisee, all caught up in ceremony and missing what matters. Jesus knew this would be the case all too often, concerning His commandments, concerning all things Him…

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

A Christian I am. This proclamation comes with much responsibility. I am challenged to be a living, breathing example of the Savior Who died for me. How do I do this, but more importantly, how can I not? How could I deny Him this, when He did, He gave, He endured, He sacrificed so much for me?(my earlier comment about wearing pink being a sacrifice seems so petty now, doesn’t it?)

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

I stopped and pondered these things, tried to listen to God. That is when I realized what I have to wear, what my family has to wear Easter morning, every morning. He’s already covered me with His precious blood of forgiveness. Now, I need to wrap myself in the wisdom of His word, clothe myself with the presence of the Holy Spirit, while allowing the love and forgiveness of Jesus to shine through me. So regardless of what clothes I wear Easter morning, or any other morning for that matter; I will forever be sporting the “I Am Forgiven and I Am Thankful” ensemble, everywhere I go.

 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16