An Easter Sunday Lesson

Okay so I know it is almost a week since Easter but I thought I would share with you my Easter Sunday Lesson that I learned this year.

For the past 4 weeks my family has been visiting a new church here in town. And while we have enjoyed the services and the people are precious, let's face it, starting over isn't easy. It's sometimes downright painful. Nevertheless we have persevered and every week gets easier.

Easter was going to be the Big One! Not only were we attending Sunday School (where you really let people get to KNOW you), but we were staying after the service for the children's Easter Egg Hunt and dinner on the grounds.

The wannabe Mother of the Year comes out in me on moments like this. It's as if I feel like there are imaginary judges somewhere, grading me. So of course everything had to be just right. Easter outfits for the whole family (even though they wouldn't have known if they were knew our not), perfect Sunday dishes to present for the dinner on the grounds and all with the grace and assurance of a young Martha Stewart.

I was baking a dessert the Saturday before because it has to be served chilled. So that put me ahead of the game for Sunday morning. I was also bringing chicken and dressing since it is one of my hubby's favs. I made the cornbread the night before and planned to boil the chicken early Sunday morning and pop it in the oven.

Everything started off fine. I started the chicken boiling before I got into the shower. When I got out, I went to preheat the oven and shredded the chicken. After shredding the chicken and placing everything in the casserole dish I went to put it in the oven when low and behold the oven wasn't on. How did I forget to preheat the oven? I must be losing it. No worries, I still had plenty of time. I turn the dial to the oven again and went to put the casserole dish in when much to my dismay the oven went off AGAIN! I hadn't forgot to preheat it, IT WAS BROKEN!!!!

I panicked "This can not be happening." It worked just fine last night. Any other time I could call my neighbor down the street. But this is Easter Sunday and we both discussed what all we were cooking for our Sunday dinner. I can't go to a new church and have just a dessert or a pathetic rendition of chicken and dressing. My husband saw my distress and tried to assist, but since his idea of helping was to microwave it, I thought I better just figure this one out on my own.

I kept turning it on and it kept cutting right back off. I tried to get the kids dressed while I thought up a miracle. My attitude was getting worse by the second. My poor children beautifully adorned in their new Easter outfits and hyped up on chocolate Easter everything were watching their mother turn into a psycho. It was then and there that I made a decision.

I marched into my room, closed the door and sat at my vanity. It was time to give myself a stern lecture. "Look here little girl, this is absolutely ridiculous. Today is not about perfect first impressions, or scrumptious covered dishes, or new Easter clothes or any such foolishness. Today your Savior is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for your pitiful self. That is what today is about!" Needless, to say I put my Big Girl pants on and got over it.

I brought my uncooked dressing to the church and baked it in the church's oven during Sunday School. It was just fine. I think Someone was wanting to teach me a lesson. We got home that afternoon ready to crash after a Super Easter Sunday.

..................Oh! And guess whose oven worked perfectly when she got home?

The Bible Says.....

Yesterday my daughter informed me of her latest Biblical knowledge.  

"Mommy, the Bible says you should not eat off of any one else's plate."

"It does; Where does it say that?"

"In Chapter 89"

"In Chapter 89?"

"Yeah in Chapter 89, on  the left page."

So there you have it Bible Scholars!

CONFESSION

I have a CONFESSION............

I LOVE the dollar store. It doesn't matter if it is Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Everything's a Dollar. There is something about coming out of a store with arms full of bags and not having to feel guilty about it.

It is one of my favorite pleasures in life. And really you just never know what you might find there. It is like going on a treasure hunt. I have to say I take pride in the fact that I am not too good for the Dollar Store. It has been a friend to me. Does this make me sound pathetic?

Tough Choices

Ever feel like life is a series of tough choices? Lately, I have had to make some tough choices. I have been contemplating the dreams, goals and aspirations in my life. There is a process to dreaming really. There is the birth of the dream. New birth can be difficult but extremely exciting and filled with anticipation. Then there is the life of the dream. It can be tiring at times but it is mostly filled with great joy. It is the reward of your work and perseverance. Unfortunately like all things that are born there is a death to any dream. A necessary end. Usually the mourning and loss hurt deeply. 

I have been weighing all the dreams that are spinning out of control in my head and asking myself if I have it in me to take on all these things? You see, even the greatest accomplishments come with a hefty price tag. Many times we sacrifice one thing to gain another. When you are a mother you have to be careful that your wanting and wishing doesn't come at the expense of your family.

My greatest endeavor is to "walk out my faith" in front of my children. My everyday lifestyle becomes their definition of Christianity. It is a responsibility like none other. If in my pursuit for Godly things, I neglect my precious family, have I not failed in the greatest calling in my life?

It is not easy to step back from our wants and our wishes and lay aside what is rewarding for what is necessary. In some ways it is our greatest service to Him. It is a tough choice to daily take up your cross and follow Him. Especially when the way is foreign, lonely and sometimes dark.