Happy Easter!
One of the most impactful part of our trip to the Holy Land of Israel was witnessing on our final day the power of an empty tomb. With Jesus rising to sit on the right hand of God, our Father, the love of the living Christ now rises in us. Jesus said on the final night of his life: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35, NIV). This Easter morning, might we catch a glimpse of the endless love of God expanding from our hearts, our hands, our eyes and our lips?
I snapped a photo of Christ’s love in action as our Mission Circle from Northside Church gathered to create forty-seven Easter baskets requested to nurture the Grove Park neighborhood of our community through a nearby non-profit named PAWkids. Bringing donated items, eggs, candy, toys, stuffed animals, candles, soaps, jewelry, coloring books, crayons, books, journals, and more, we made forty-seven colorful baskets overflowing with the love of Christ. Ten for boys. Ten for girls. Seven for teens. Ten for senior men. Ten for senior women. With the plethora of generous supplies, we created about fifteen more happy baskets for those served by Good Samaritan Health Center, right up the road from PAWkids.
The multiplication of the love of Christ pouring out of our hearts into each fun-filled basket was an incredible sight to see. What a privilege it was to deliver these small symbols of God’s big and bountiful love.
For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross. I think these cell phone photos capture the generative joy of Christ’s new commandment, love one another as I have loved you, freely, constantly, without condition. Emerging from the dark emptiness of the dank tomb, this Easter morn our eyes breathe in the colorful love of our living Lord multiplying boldly among us.
Happy Easter to you and yours!
…Sue…
