April 16, 2014

Easter... Before, During, and After the Little years.


I wrote last year a bit about my Upbringing and Easter... if you want a bit of my background, well - there ya go. Otherwise - let's jump right in.


I became a Christian at 21, a wife at 22, and a Mama at 25.  I fell in love with my life as it was unfolding and that has ever since then been the case.

We have an Only... she is hands down the best thing I have ever done and coming at Easter from the perspective of a parent undoes me every. single. year.

Gah... how much the Father loves us!

Every year we meet up at my In-Laws -Loves house and have Easter lunch after church.  This tradition began long before I entered the family and it was cemented early on, even in our Before Season of having a Little.

We gather together, eat lunch, and share what stood out about Easter, really letting the Gospel saturate us.  Eventually our Only came along and she has one older cousin and for a couple of years, we'd hide eggs all over yard and they would go on the hunt... just the two of them.  After Steph moved away, for many more years our Girlie searched on her own. 

Can you even?                    

Since then, well - Littles have been added... and added...


(...and added some more - even since this photo was taken a couple of years ago!)

In the midst of her growing up years - our During Season - Easter has always meant church and family and Egg Hunts with the cousins, - and let's not forget that crazy over-filled, (now seriously sad) hand crafted Easter Basket made for her First Easter Ever.  It went from a little candy and a dress with some sidewalk chalk, plastic toys and bubbles squeezed in, to a little candy and a dress with designer heels, room decor, and an itunes cards tucked in.

Seriously, ya'll - this is falling apart and she won't let me get rid of it!

When she was still a Tiny and could barely climb the stairs, she would ask to watch "Jesus on da Toss!"  She loved her Easter cartoons, but what she requested more than anything was to watch The Matthew Movie - a word for word rendition of the Gospel of Matthew; the one with the happy Jesus and she would be glued to the screen, downloading Scripture without even knowing it.  Oh, we'd let her but we'd always skip the Crucifixion.  Still, that is the scene that got her, every. time. Even going fast forward. (...So that completely dates me. Whatever.)

For all of her life, our Girlie has known Easter and what it means - how it is all about Jesus and what He did and what He does still... how He is still going about the business of saving and redeeming... 

But in this (nearly) After Season some things have changed.  Our college girlie works now and so getting a holiday off is not a given and we are still waiting to see if she gets to join us on Sunday and sit down for lunch, share Gospel and mashed potatoes, and talk a little about life and death and resurrection.  All the cousins are getting older... we still have Littles so the excitement of searching for eggs and candy is still high, but it has a different feeling to it now.  

Honestly, at this point, this isn't how I envisioned things. But I am old enough now to know that God is never caught off guard or surprised by anything.  The little details that I would like to change don't really concern Him. But He and I both agree that what we want the most this Easter - for my family and for yours, no matter the stage or age, is that there will be heart-hunger stirred up and Gospel-truth soaked in deep!

I pray that at some point over the next several days, whether at church, in quiet time, with family, or searching for treasures hidden, you will reflect on Easter as a parent.  That you will see your Littles - no matter how little they are or aren't anymore - and remember that the Father gave up His one and only Son so that we might have life... and have it more abundantly!

No matter your wishes or dreams, your disappointments or concerns as a parent... He's got your Littles and your not so Littles and He knows... as a Father, He knows!  He desires the best for them too and He loves them with a heart that beats FIERCE for them.  Whether they are joyfully serving Him, going through the motions with little shown emotion, or searching on their own for truth... He is after them!  

I remember having a conversation once where we were discussing if God really forsook Jesus on the Cross or if the enemy of His soul simply made Him believe He was forsaken.  It was not an argument and it can't be proven, but it made me ponder  ...how often have I fallen for the lies of the enemy and felt like I was abandoned, beyond help... forsaken, beyond hope?  Too many than I'd like to admit to, honestly.

But He has given us a Promise to never leave us or forsake us and I believe that - always - there is hope, because where ever you go, He is there!






I'm linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

and with Holley Gerth for #CoffeeforYourHeart


16 comments :

  1. Ah, every time I think of how much I love my littles (the littlest will turn 20 tomorrow-ak!), and then think that God loves MORE THAN THAT, I am amazed and humbled and brought to tears. I probably don't ponder it enough. I'm so glad he has promised to never leave or forsake us--no matter how much we change or sin or drift away--he is ALWAYS there.

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    1. Anita, it's crazy amazing isn't it? To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He (somehow) loves them more than we do! It brings such peace too! Have a blessed Easter, my friend!

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  2. Thank you for sharing your memories and traditions with us. It is so amazing that Jesus is always there for us, and that He loves us more than we can comprehend. I hope you have a very happy Easter!

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    1. Thanks so much for being a consistent coffee sipper over here with me in my little corning of the interwebs, Jo Rose! I appreciate you so... and praying you have a blessed Easter as well!

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  3. What beautiful memories. I have to admit, the holidays have been hard since my first married and is now on her own. We juggle which house she will spend Easter in and this year probably not ours. I am thankful that although things are different as they grow, that God remains the same and we have the blessed hope of all that Easter brings.

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    1. Barbie - I know... we talk about this often and I can't even entertain the thought of my Girlie living in a different city let alone time zone. We tried that when I went to Allume last year and luckiliy none of the three of us were fans of it! Still - God has plans and we want what He wants for all of us! Praying you have a blessed Easter... knowing her heart is yours, even if she doesn't get to sit across the table from you in the flesh! (Thanks goodness for technology though, right? It makes it possible to still see them even if it is through a screen!)

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  4. Anonymous5:28 AM

    Karrilee, I love this post...and now I'm bawling like a baby! I'm in a season of praying for God to surround my children and grandchildren with His people and I believe He is answering that prayer. My daughter and her husband have enrolled my grands in a Christian daycare/preschool, my daughter has just gotten a part-time job there, and she has made plans for us to go to church this weekend while I am visiting. It is such a joy to know that on Easter Sunday, I will be taking my grands to church!

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    1. Holly - I am rejoicing with you my friend! What a gift! (Sorry to make you cry... well - you know, only a little bit!) ;) My daughter loves the Lord but I always envisioned at this age she would be plugged in to a church or small group and making Him more of a priority. But even that statement is unfair... I can't know how many times a day she is talking with Him and while on the outside, I thought it would look different... He is always at work on the inside and that is where change begins and stands steadfast, right? Praying for your time together... have a blessed Easter!

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  5. I love the way you share stories about being the mama of an only daughter, they are always heartwarming. We're in the stage of teens and Easter baskets and wanting them to be meaningful and not about more stuff. Not sure if we will pull them out of the attic, but resurrection is coming regardless!

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    1. Oh I hear you Shelly - wanting less 'stuff' and more meaning! My Girlie is in need of a new Bible - but that is personal and she is going to need to pick it out herself and we are sadly lacking in that kind of shopping in this small town... and anymore they all use free apps and their phones or tablets soooo... that sad worn out handmade Basket is still empty! (We are going shopping together today... is it bad that I am going to buy her stuff WITH her? LOL At least I will know she likes it, right?) Oh the joy of teenagers and nearly grown Littles!

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  6. Anonymous11:46 AM

    I love the memories you share today. I am learning that God's plans for me and my family may be different than my plans but they are always perfect. Thanks for the reminder to cherish each Easter ( each day) for the gift it is.

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    1. Amy - thanks so much for reminiscing with me, friend! God's plans are always better than ours - we just tend to want to skip over (or around) the hard parts! Praying you have a blessed Easter!

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  7. A flood of memories came rushing back to me when our children were little. It is different when they are adults, they really don't want an Easter basket but just want to be with us. We will be traveling the day before Easter and looking forward to attending a church in my home town. Good post..

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    1. Betty, Thanks so much for stopping by! It is different when they are adults... so far, our Only still lives at home and is single - but I know it the changes are just beginning and there will come a day when Easter Sunday just may involve road trips and travel for us too! Praying you have a blessed Easter with the fam!

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  8. Beautiful friend!!! Great memories and you are so encouraging. I have littles at home and this....

    "He desires the best for them too and He loves them with a heart that beats FIERCE for them. Whether they are joyfully serving Him, going through the motions with little shown emotion, or searching on their own for truth... He is after them!"

    This spoke to my heart friend. Thanks for sharing your memories and praying for us. Hugs!

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    1. Amen! Some days it seems impossible to think that one day things will be different and you may actually miss these chaotic days... or at least remember them differently - with less chaos! Have a blessed Easter, my friend!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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