Welcome and then some

I must say I’ve been hesitating jumping on the blog-wagon for quite some time, as I’ve been equally unsure of what to name my page and uncertain if what I would say is really important enough to write down. Not a self-esteem issue, but more of a nothing-terribly-exciting-seems-to-happen-in-my-world-lately issue. I missed the opportunity to share the drama of buying our second home, and we don’t have kids, actual or impending, to share about at the moment. And while Chris and I were excited to purchase an exercise bike, it’s not the kind of thing you jump on the internet to share pictures of with your friends and family.
One thing has been on my mind lately though, since in less then a week we get to celebrate Easter. As with any holiday, every time I walk into a store I’m assaulted with all things pastel; baskets, assorted stuffed animals, candy, eggs both plastic and edible, and a multitude of other things they’re trying to sell anyone who unwittingly gets sucked into the vortex of holiday crap that is the “seasonal isle”. This is a natural part of life that I’ve generally come to accept, as I truly believe that some stores would stock road kill if they thought it’d turn a profit, but that’s another topic for another day. However, it seems to me that somehow the holiest of all Christian holidays has become buried under the miles of chocolate bunnies and plastic grass.
Folks, this is it. The Holiday. The one that if you’re going to recognize a true meaning to celebrate, Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins would be the one to raise your glass to. Giving thanks around a table set with a big turkey dinner is a great reminder of how blessed I am. Remembering our nation’s birth by watching fireworks and eating burgers is a lot of fun. The birth of Jesus is a really important thing to honor and thank God for. But when you strip away everything my faith is based on till you get to the one fact that you can truly stand on alone, it is Christ’s death on the cross, resurrection and what that means for me.
A year or two ago I became frustrated enough that I made the decision not to incorporate the Easter bunny in this holiday when I have a family. I questioned the purpose of a giant rabbit hiding eggs and leaving baskets full of goodies and what that had to do with Christ’s sacrifice and my salvation because of it. I not only came up with no good reason for this, I further learned it was a pagan symbol for fertility which got carried over when early Christians borrowed the spring equinox for their holiday.
Now, I was raised in a household where we did holidays right. We got together with family, had good food, gave thanks, went to church, and I have fond memories filled with love and generosity and eating. I am in no way saying that I’ve decided to boycott Easter. There will be ham and cake and chocolate in my house this weekend, as well as lots of family, friends, and love. I even have a small Easter basket to fill with goodies, but I will be the one filling it, and that’s the way it’ll stay even when I have kids. But this is my challenge and I suppose my charge to you as well, to not let the most important Christian holiday be overtaken by a society screaming about the man in the bunny suit and taking all the attention away from the Man on the Cross.
I’m hereby reclaiming Easter for the sake of my Savior.