All morning I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Hannah had been so excited about Easter, and had set her basket out early yesterday in anticipation of what she might find it filled with this morning. But when she actually started going through her basket, the joy I expected to see just wasn't there. While Kaelie seemed thrilled with hers, Hannah's reaction was lukewarm.
Finally, Hannah confessed that she had been holding out hope that the Easter bunny was real. She had figured out the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus several months ago, and had made several comments about the Easter Bunny, so I guess we just assumed she understood that Mom and Dad filled the baskets. It turns out she really wanted the Easter Bunny to be real because she reasoned that only the bunny would bring her what she really wanted in her basket, a Webkinz collie dog. I had already told her repeatedly she wasn't getting anymore Webkinz because she already has 11, for heaven's sake! So when she ran to check out her basket this morning and saw that there was no collie, she tried to hide her disappointment by stuffing her mouth full of Robin's Eggs!
Isn't that so typical of life? We want our baskets to be filled with all of our hearts' desires. We long for, and even expect health, wealth and happiness as if we're entitled to those things. When our baskets don't quite fill up the way we want them to, we too often react with bitterness, anger and depression.
Praise God for the gift of Easter. On this day we're reminded that no matter what our baskets lack, God makes up for in Jesus Christ. Only He offers the gifts that truly fill us, gifts of love, grace, peace, and the promise of eternal life for all who believe.
We can pin our hopes on all kinds of things; ourselves, other people, our accomplishments, material possessions, even the Easter Bunny. But rest assured that when we do, we will end up disappointed every time.
Jesus, the one who concquered death and has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in heaven, will never disappoint. Hebrews 6:19 says "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (NIV)
Who's filling your basket?
Finally, Hannah confessed that she had been holding out hope that the Easter bunny was real. She had figured out the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus several months ago, and had made several comments about the Easter Bunny, so I guess we just assumed she understood that Mom and Dad filled the baskets. It turns out she really wanted the Easter Bunny to be real because she reasoned that only the bunny would bring her what she really wanted in her basket, a Webkinz collie dog. I had already told her repeatedly she wasn't getting anymore Webkinz because she already has 11, for heaven's sake! So when she ran to check out her basket this morning and saw that there was no collie, she tried to hide her disappointment by stuffing her mouth full of Robin's Eggs!
Isn't that so typical of life? We want our baskets to be filled with all of our hearts' desires. We long for, and even expect health, wealth and happiness as if we're entitled to those things. When our baskets don't quite fill up the way we want them to, we too often react with bitterness, anger and depression.
Praise God for the gift of Easter. On this day we're reminded that no matter what our baskets lack, God makes up for in Jesus Christ. Only He offers the gifts that truly fill us, gifts of love, grace, peace, and the promise of eternal life for all who believe.
We can pin our hopes on all kinds of things; ourselves, other people, our accomplishments, material possessions, even the Easter Bunny. But rest assured that when we do, we will end up disappointed every time.
Jesus, the one who concquered death and has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in heaven, will never disappoint. Hebrews 6:19 says "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (NIV)
Who's filling your basket?
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