Growing up in a non-religious atmosphere, holidays like Christmas and Easter were mostly about get togethers, gift exchanges, and special once-a-year foods. Grandma's au-gratins, Aunt's sweet potatoes, Uncle's turkey (before I went vegetarian) deviled eggs. Then family time, games and conversation with family members seen only on these occasions, Grandpa falling asleep after dinner on the sofa...arguments about politics over rum cake and wine, the occasional drunken brawl...you know, the special things.
We never, however, discussed the birth of Christ in regards to Christmas, or His resurrection in connection with Easter.
I mean, I knew about the 'real' meaning but we never talked about it.
Then when I had my own child, I had been introduced to Christ in a bit more depth by then, I wanted my son to know what I had learned to be the 'true' reason for these holidays, so, while I exposed him to the myths of Santa and the Easter bunny, I also made sure he knew that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, and Easter about His resurrection after being crucified.
Fast forward 15 years or so and I find myself reading up on the actual story behind Easter and I'm so thankful that I was ignorant when my son was growing up.
I mean, how could a parent possibly reconcile being ‘awake’ with allowing their child to grow up thinking Jesus is the 'reason for these seasons'? The choices are pretty unfair, if you tell the kid a lie, you're a deceiver, and if you tell them the truth, you run the risk of making them the weird kid in class.
When I was in 6th grade, there was this kid who wasn't allowed to celebrate birthdays, or holidays with the rest of us in class because he was Jehova’s Witness.
I remember his name, that's how much of an impact it had on me to watch this boy sitting through the pledge of allegiance every morning while the rest of us stood, who sat reading all alone while we all walked around in our costumes to other classrooms collecting candy on Halloween. I felt so bad for how weird he was, not exchanging Valentines Day cards or decorating the Christmas gingerbread house with everyone else because I thought he was missing out. I also thought that, if it were me having to be the only kid in class who couldn’t partake in the incredibly awesome festivities of 6th grade, that I would be pretty embarrassed.
But now that I look back, I think the good part about his weirdness was that he didn't seem to feel weird at all...he always acted pretty chill about it, actually. Like maybe he looked at us like we were the weird ones…and laughed a little in his head…or plotted his revenge.
Scott...that was his name.
Wonder whatever happened to Scott 🤔
Maybe he’s a gazillionaire, living on an island in Fiji surrounded by beautiful women who enjoy feeding him and braiding his long, black hair before he swims with strange and exotic fish all day and lays around just being awesome all night.
Probably not, but maybe!
Anyway,
This year, instead of thinking too hard about what I was celebrating on Easter (Ishtar…whatever, Nimrod, Ham,…do some reading) I just decided to chill with family, enjoy the deviled eggs and take some pictures.
Thought I’d share them here.
Hope everyone had a lovely day, regardless of…whatever.
A lovely thinking spot
A lonely, but somewhat happy barn
Some trees with sunset approaching
A magnolia blossoming
And another
🤗Shalom, y'all!