The REAL excitement of Easter

Excitement. Suspense.

"Tomorrow's Easter!" 'Lil Sis said. "I get to wear my pretty pretty dress!" Which pretty much sums up Easter's meaning for her. Not much interest in the stories of Jesus or even Easter egg hunts or Easter baskets. Nope, it's all about the dress.

"I am excited to go to church. And for the Easter egg hunt" Big Sis one-upped her 'Lil Sis (who could care less).

I am excited for Easter, too. It's right up there in my top two favorite holidays. And, this year, it's going to be oh, so different from the typical "family gathering" holiday, with 20-30 people sitting around a ping pong table dressed out for an Easter meal at Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma's house.

You see, I will be with a small group of family.

Sitting in an ICU waiting room.

Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken (Which IS open on Easter, in case anyone is wondering).

Visiting Great-Grandma, probably the feistiest fighter they have in that there ICU.

With joy and thanksgiving in my heart. For so many things. God keeps Grandma in His hand, breathing life into her. She is making baby steps forward, or should we call them gramma steps? Little by very little, she is improving. She is still listed in critical condition, going on 2 weeks. Fight, gramma, fight.

Last year on Easter, we were in the process of finding a new church home and I was a brand-new first time visitor at the church that morning. My hubby was playing at another church that day, so I brought 3 kids alone to a new church on the busiest church day of the year. I felt so so alone. A visitor. I missed our old church and the fellowship we had there. I was not in the "mood" to experience Easter. I was terrified of all the changes. Let's just say I was a wee bit fragile.

And THEN, they sang this song. I had never sung it before, and I was a total. wreck. Puddle on the floor. Here are the lyrics:

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

So so powerful, such amazing life changing lyrics. I can't sing it without crying. I can't get through it.

This, my sweet friends, is why I am excited for Easter this year. It is not about my pretty dress. It is not about Easter eggs or chocolate bunnies. It's not about where you spend it, who you're with, or what you eat.

It is about the power of the cross, and the power of the resurrection. This is the power by which Grandma is fighting, the power by which it is possible for Grandma to not fear death. This is the power by which even death can not defeat us, because Christ Himself defeated death.

How do I blog a shout? That's how I feel as I'm writing this.

Have a powerful, Christ-exalting Easter! He is Risen!