I was ten years old when JFK was assassinated and I remember every detail of that day…and the days and weeks after. That event changed my life by taking away the innocent idea that everything is good in the world. Martin Luther King. Bobby Kennedy. The Challenger explosion. 9/11. All monumentally bad things that happened and changed the world in an instant. 

Life went on after each one, but I’ll bet most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when they happened. The thing the past can teach us is…things change. Things can be really bad. But they’ll be ok again. Albeit a different kind of ok…but ok nonetheless.

I look back over the Easters in my life. There were a lot of them that didn’t hold any meaning to me other than the Easter Bunny bringing candy and colorful eggs to my kids…even when we were living a Jewish life. Because, in my house, it was ME making the choice to become Jewish and you don’t take Santa and the Easter Bunny away from a five year old. 

The Easters that had meaning to me during my childhood were when we went to Grandma’s little white church on the hill. We came back to her house and had a big supper and pigged out on candy. I remember one particular Easter, my paternal grandmother baked me a bunny cake that was so clever. And someone made my grandma a sugar egg that you could peek inside and see the Easter Bunny delivering eggs.

Before Mr. Virgo died, we went to Mass for Easter but he always had to work the holidays, so again…not so memorable.

It wasn’t till after Mr. Virgo died that I truly started to feel the true meaning of Easter. Good Friday is so somber and solemn and sad. Then Easter bursts forth with Joy at the first rays of morning light. Ever since I found my church home, I have enjoyed Easter Services with my church family and this time it’s different. We have to listen to our pastor online like the majority of others. It’s not the same as being there, but it’s still corporate prayer.

Easter has never changed. Whether we are in a building or not…THAT is not the church. WE are the church. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in His Name…there is love. If you are isolated and alone during this time…remember, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you so you are never truly alone. That was one of the biggest comforts to me when I became a widow.

Yes…this is an Easter we will never forget. It’s a story we will share till the day we die. Things may seem dismal in the world. But Jesus overcame the world. It in with Him that I find my deepest Joy…even in the darkest of moments.

May you all have a Blessed Easter. May you connect with loved ones on this day. And, may you find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

He is Risen!

❤️?❤️

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”

John 20:1 NIV