What Comes to Mind When You Hear the Word... Easter?
Easter…
Chocolate? Beautifully painted eggs? A bunny? Baby chicks? A day off work? Oh, and did I mention chocolate? LOL.
For me, it's definitely chocolate—but not for me—for my hubby! I dare not forget.
But… I also contemplate suffering.
I know, it's a weird combination.
Jesus suffered a horrific death on the cross for me, so my sins could be forgiven. And I often ponder why God would use suffering to bring about salvation. He could have accomplished it any other way. And so I believe suffering is far different than we see it...it is a work being done. Can I really wrap my brain around that? Not fully. But I get a snapshot when I think of my own suffering and what it has changed inside of me for the better...and what it is still doing.
Personally, there's a lot going on in my life, and I feel stretched and weary. Our business is struggling, and but for the grace of God, I pray it turns around, so we don't lose everything, including our home. My son is back home, navigating his own disappointments—and brought a large, shedding dog along with him. My mother-in-law, whom I care for, is developing dementia. My health is being tested with a diagnosis of severe arthritis. Meanwhile, the yard work is piling up, and everything needs attention. Oh—and I'm in the process of writing and publishing three books in just nine months. All this for an old bird...not a spring chicken.
Do you feel stretched?
Do you feel weary?
Do you feel disappointed?
What I'm about to attach here is something I wrote a few Easters ago—and wow, does it speak into my life today.
I pray it uplifts your soul, as it has mine.
Day 2 AD
A somber lies over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus is dead. The skies open and heaven weeps a thousand tears. The Messiah has been cornered, crushed, crucified. Tortured for our transgressions. A mammoth rock and soldiers that guard the tomb seem to have the final word.
The day is dark. Dreary. Disappointing. The disciples huddle in an upper room full of defeat. Their Teacher has departed.
The women weep.
But WAIT FOR IT!
All is as it should be…
The quiet is part of the quest for hidden treasure.
The sorrow is part of the solace.
The tears are part of the triumph.
A plan with a purpose slowly unfolds.
WAIT FOR IT!
God is never aloof, or asleep, or apathetic to our cry. He is working. As Romans 8:28 says, everything… (and that means the worst of the worst) for our good, to all who love the Lord.
As the disciples and the women that loved Jesus…
WAIT FOR IT!
Resurrection morning is coming when all suffering will be redeemed!
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About the author
Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist, and a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, and former newspaper columnist on health and fitness. A Word Guild semi-finalist for Anna's Secret, Katherine's Arrangement, Amelia’s Heartsong, and a Word Guild winner for Best Romance for Lucinda’s Defender. She has found her home in the writing of historical fiction but is open to wherever God leads. The many 5-star reviews attest to the power of love and romance authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their five love stories.
Blossom lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, David, of forty years and their dog Lacey named after Lacey Spring, Virginia, where this series takes place. A former businesswoman, personal trainer, and mother of two grown children she is now pursuing her lifelong dream of writing full-time. A hopeless romantic at heart, she believes all story should give the reader significant entertainment value. However, her writing embodies the struggles of real life. She infuses the reality of suffering with the hope of Christ to give a healthy dose of relatable encouragement to her reader. Her desire is to leave the reader with a yearning to live for Christ on a deeper level, or at the very least, create a hunger to seek for more.
Co-author Suzie Zanewhich
Suzie is a certified life coach, leader of emotional health, and resource specialist. She has found her niche as a soul coach.
Suzie finds purpose in empowering individuals to move towards growth, healing, and alignment with their authentic self. Suzie is driven by a calling to live authentically, as the person God created her to be, to reach her fullest potential and lead others to do the same. Her passion is to help others find meaning through discovering their strengths, gifts, personality, temperament and core values.
Suzie is a life-long learner, continuously immersing herself in new courses to learn more about human behaviour, relationships, psychology, child development, emotions, trauma and healing. Because of her craving to always learn more she has earned the title of resource specialist in the area of self-discovery.
Suzie Zanewich lives with her husband in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has a patchwork family of four grown children, two daughters, two sons and three granddaughters.
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