God's son, hope and faith are resurrected

There are two hollow Easter bunnies sitting on the library table. I have resisted them for several days but doubt if they will remain uneaten until Easter.

They have survived a temporary reprieve because I have been dealing with a soggy cat toy named Mr. Bill. It was found face-down in Gracie’s water bowl. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a victim of attempted murder by the cat or if the toy had attempted suicide. It turned out that Mr. Bill had entered a cat toy triathlon and was in training. The water bowl was the only open water it could find to practice swimming. Mr. Bill is almost dry now and can resume his training in a couple of days. When he was told that Gracie was initially a suspect he said, “Oh, no!”

I seldom wish I was a child again, but Easter holds fond memories. Like going to church with my aunt and uncle. During hymns I held a song book just like they did. My uncle Norman turned the book right side up for me.

After church we left for home. At the time, Norman and his wife, Carol, lived in a mobile home parked between our driveway and the pasture. The Easter bunny had been busy while we were at church. I called a friend down the street and we had great fun finding the eggs then re-hiding them and finding them again.

After that grew old, we had a snowball fight with the blooms from the snowball bush before the rest of the family arrived. We stripped the shrub of every flower that was in full bloom. The yard was covered with soft white petals. The buds for the next round of flowers were grateful that we left them alone.

When the rest of the aunts and uncles began to trickle in, my friend went home to visit with her own aunts and uncles.

Every Easter we not only learned of the resurrection of Christ, we lived it. We saw first hand the new life all around. Some years the snow lingered, other years the grass was green and the pasture was muddy. Always, there was evidence of the earth awakening from its long winter’s nap.

Newly acquired fuzzy chicks and ducklings explored their pens. Violets appeared in the thick layer of leaves that marked the path to the back field. Plants that had spent the winter as cold, dry shadows of their former selves sprouted new leaves and sometimes flowers.

In addition to renewed growth, was a new feeling in the air. In addition to the resurrection of God’s son, there was a resurrection of hope and faith. Sunny skies and increased energy were welcome after a dreary winter.

No matter what, if any, holiday you celebrate this time of year, hollow chocolate bunnies and other seasonal treats are as much a part of the celebration as church services and egg hunts.

I hope you all get to spend time with your families. Even chocolate bunnies can’t compete with the memories created when families get together. And if you should find your pet’s toy in its water bowl, don’t automatically assume the cat did it. It could be signed up for the same events as Mr. Bill.