All the Good

We were on our way to church Friday when Silas said, "Mom, why do they call it 'Good Friday'? I think it should be called Hard Day because it was hard for Jesus. It wasn't good."

I didn't do anything spectacular for Easter this year. But I had honestly been praying for natural, everyday ways to talk with the children about the realities of this weekend that means so much to us who believe. 

Earlier in the day Friday, Simeon fell off his bike into a thorn bush. He got just a few mild pokes but I called the children over and we talked about how it was likely the time of day that the soldiers were making a crown of thorns and pressing it into the head of our Savior.  They wondered aloud how that must have felt. A hard day indeed. 

Tonight, after a weekend full to the brim of remembrances, deep theology, solid teaching, and powerful worship, I can't help but think...

I so often want all the good with none of the hard. 

But the call is to obedience. The call is to something far beyond me, far beyond us. And I so want to know, when it's all said and done, that I didn't miss the whole point. 

Even when that means hard. 

As we drove on to church Friday evening, we got to talk all about the wonder of the cross...that it was terribly hard and agonizing and so sad that Jesus even had to endure it. But we also got to talk about all the good that came because He was obedient. 

He ushered in all the good because He was willing to choose all the hard. 

It's the same for us, really. I know the hard is worth it. Not easy, but worth it. Because finding Him in the obedience is all the good. 

Resurrection Day is something to celebrate!

And I'll let you in on a little secret. When I can't get all the kids to smile at once, I give up and tell them to run!

And this, just because it is simply sweet...