Remembering What's Important

I so wish I could find what I just heard on K-Love. It was a nice reality check for this time of year.

As we sit and listen to friends and family talking about the upcoming day that frees us all...

EASTER...

Are we remembering what's really important or are we wrapped up in what we need to buy, get, and plan out more?

The commercial they just played had two ladies talking. One modern day woman and her worries and concerns about what she needs to get... what is "important" in her frame of mind right now. After she was done talking the other lady would talk. She would give the reality side of what Jesus was going through at this time for us.

For me it was a nice reminder to not be upset that we aren't able to get the kids Easter outfits this year.

An outfit was one of the items the first lady was rushing to figure out how to get. The second lady said something along the lines of "Jesus had his clothes ripped off of him and torn for you." When the first lady then says something about rushing around and not being able to get all the "Easter stuff" she says "People just don't know what I'm going through." The second lady then goes "Jesus was in the garden praying and thinking of you."

The 3 seconds I heard of this message stirred something in my heart. I have always not been a fan of baskets and dresses and all. That isn't to say I'm a scrooge or my kids don't do things like that sometimes, but it's not top priority here. This time of year is wonderful and all but I think even as Christians we have lost sight of the pain and beauty of this time of year. We get wrapped up in dinner planning, basket making, and throw in a little Jesus along the way. I think it needs to be more of the opposite. We need to be wrapped up in Jesus and throw in a little of everything else. Not make everything else so big. If that makes sense.

Sadly, we haven't done much of either of them this year. I've been more wrapped up in it let's get school done and where do we need to be today. I've told myself lies of well I don't have this to teach about this time of year or that... when I've had everything I need right in my hand the whole time.

My Bible.

The kids can color. They don't need art supplies or tissue paper or anything else. Hearing about the Message is all that matters. I, too, have fallen victim and lost sight of the simplicity of this season. How powerful and memorable that is alone. How little Jesus had and all that was taken from him just to be on the cross and give us the BIGGEST gift of all. Not eggs or baskets or a wonderful ham but HIMSELF.

Jesus didn't have any sprinkles, ribbons, or tablecloths with huge Easter meal spreads before him. He was beat, spat at, degraded, in pain for US. Just to fulfill his Father's will to give us a chance to forever be co-heirs with him. I am thankful that the only live station I chose to listen to this morning on my phone was K-Love. I'm thankful for the nudge back into the right direction for today and my frame of mind for this upcoming time. What's really important and how to remind my kids of that so they don't get lost in what's important too.

Now, please know this isn't to say that getting Easter clothes and all isn't fun or what not just for me this commercial spoke to my heart for us to not be focused on that part of it. We aren't going to be dark and dramatic with nothing and think of the pain. I agree that the beauty of it is that we are clothed and rejoice. We are to just be together rejoicing in the wonderful forever life and best gift that couldn't fit into a plastic egg or basket we have ever gotten. I'm sure we will do a little egg hunt for the kids and they'll get small baskets but the main point of it all will remain on the focus where it belongs.

JESUS

We will definitely be more mindful to not get lost in what the world is saying we need to be thinking about right now, and not worrying about what we can or can not get for the kids.