Preparing for Easter

Hey Everyone!

Today is Good Friday. Every Good Friday I have experienced since I was old enough to understand what Good Friday was, something inside of me has always felt somber. Yes, I know that Jesus died for our sins, and that Easter is a celebration. But Good Friday has always been a day of reflection for me. It is also a day I try to prepare myself for Easter as well.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself:

Am I living a life that Jesus Christ would be proud of?
Am I honoring Jesus’ sacrifice for me by the decisions I make on a daily basis?
Am I helping others in their understanding of Christ?
Am I being loving and kind towards others always?
Am I also willing to make sacrifices in order to better serve Christ?
Do I ever take Christ’s actions for granted?

I will admit that sometimes I am disappointed in the answers I give to these questions. I am human. I make mistakes and I sin. Everyone does. But that does not mean that I cannot strive to be better and do better every day.

When I was younger I was told something that has always stayed in my mind by my Sunday school teacher. She had told me that God gave us his only son, and that she could not imagine giving her daughter the way God gave us Jesus. When I was young, I thought I understood what she was saying. But now that I am a mother to my own little girl, I have begun to realize the deeper truth in Jesus dying on the cross. I mourn for Mary, admire her strength, and strive for her obedience to God. I cannot fathom giving my sweet little one up for the sins others have committed and will continue to commit.

We are truly blessed that Jesus did die for us, so that we may have the opportunity to join him.

Now that I am a mom, I am trying to raise Sophie with the knowledge and understanding of both Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us.

I try to read my Bible every Good Friday in order to prepare myself for Easter Sunday. Here are some of the verses and stories I try to reflect on.

John 3:16-18
John 8:12
Mark Chapter 15
Matthew 27:45-61

Today Sophie and I also read her little Bible (which was mine when I was young), and we also read The Story of Easter. Sophie loves reading and turning pages, so reading these stories together was a great experience.