Plastic Eggs Deliver No Hope But An Empty Tomb Does!
Americans are not afraid to celebrate. Ranging from Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day to the 4th of July or Christmas and Easter, Americans eagerly welcome good food, time with family and friends, and often a much needed break from work. While all of these holidays are significant in different ways for their own reasons, I personally could live without almost every single one.
Notice I said almost.
I absolutely can’t live without Christmas or Easter.
We don’t have to look far to find evidence of devastating, tragic suffering around us.
Maybe you don’t have a child living in Heaven like me, but you may be experiencing a
hard road in life that feels impossible. Financial disaster that feels never-ending.
A broken relationship that you see no way out of. Chronic pain or a health condition
that will remain with you until you leave this Earth. A difficult child that poses challenges
you have no control over. Abuse from the past that left you traumatized and rejected,
unloved and feeling useless….no hope of healing or purpose.
The good news is–this world is not the end!
Here, I share two vastly different narratives based on the shattering of my world as I knew
it when my son left this Earth.
I absolutely did NOT choose the events of May 14, 2020! But I DO get to choose
where I deposit my hope for the future and in what or whom I place my trust.
A Bunny and Chocolate Eggs
On an unusually cool and stormy day in August 2004, a sweet baby boy was born to his loving mother, Lisa. As he grew, Dalton was full of smiles, fun, and laughter. He worked hard in school and loved sports. His family was like all other average American families. They spent lots of time together, attended church each week, enjoyed making memories on vacation together, and loved making each other laugh. Dalton was a well-adjusted kid with lots of friends, accomplishments, and talents. But silently, Dalton was believing lies he was being told that his life was invaluable. No one would miss him if he was gone. In fact, they would be better off without him. There was nothing worth living for. Tragically, without warning, Dalton fell prey to these lies and ended his own life.
As the years passed by, Lisa lived miserably without her son. She tried to keep pressing
on as best she could by going to work, cleaning the house, cooking, doing laundry,
running errands, and searching for things that might make her happy again. Lisa had
spent years working hard to build a happy life. She focused on success while enjoying
some leisure activities when time allowed. But all of that vanished in the blink of an eye.
The one chance she had was over.
Since Lisa did not get to enjoy a lifetime of memories with Dalton, she was tormented with thoughts that never ceased. “Why did I have to lose my son at such a young age? I was robbed of countless years with him. Years that I will never get back! What did I ever do to deserve this?” Lisa remained miserable, full of anger, bitterness, and resentment for what she lost.
Where Lisa lived, a well-known holiday called Easter rolled around every spring. An adorable, fuzzy bunny happily delivered chocolate eggs to children and families across the land. But just like everything else, this holiday offered Lisa no comfort, joy, or peace. A bunny and chocolate eggs were no help at all. Life remained miserable with no answers. Just agonizing days that ushered in constant reminders of a world full of suffering with little reprieve.
THE END
Now, read a very different storyline–same characters, same tragedy.
But an incredibly different journey and ending because of the choice Lisa made.
Jesus and An Empty Tomb
There once lived a little girl named Lisa. When she was young, she attended
church and learned about a loving God. Once a year, her church celebrated an event
called Easter. This day was especially important to Lisa because on this day two thousand
years ago, people discovered that Jesus, who had died on a cross, was actually
resurrected. The tomb he had been placed in after his death was empty!
Jesus had paid for each of our sins and overcame death! This was good news for
Lisa and all other believers. Now, when Lisa’s earthly body died, she would live for
eternity with Jesus in a perfect place called Heaven.
Over the next 37 years, Lisa grew up and had a family of her own.
On an unusually cool and stormy day in August 2004, a sweet baby boy was born
to his loving mother, Lisa. As he grew, Dalton was full of smiles, fun, and laughter.
He worked hard in school and loved sports. His family was like all other average
American families. They spent lots of time together, attended church
each week, enjoyed making memories on vacation together, and loved making each
other laugh. Dalton was a well-adjusted kid with lots of friends, accomplishments, and
talents. But silently, Dalton was believing lies he was being told that his life was invaluable.
No one would miss him if he was gone. In fact, they would be better off without him.
There was nothing worth living for. Tragically, without warning, Dalton fell prey to these
lies and ended his own life.
The minute Dalton went to Heaven, Lisa instantly felt confusion, anger, hurt, sorrow,
despair, anxiousness, fear, and deep, unimaginable pain. But, Lisa also clung to
the relationship she had developed with the loving God she knew and trusted for
many years. She knew God was close to her (Psalm 34:18) and that
He would never leave her (Deuteronomy 31:8). God showed Lisa unending love through
special people he placed in her life and ways that He provided for her every need. Life
was still incredibly overwhelming and even agonizing. It was impossible to make sense
out of what happened. Lisa continued to grieve her son in healthy ways. In her moments
of despair, she cried out to God asking for Him to sustain her and carry her. Because
Lisa knew the tomb was empty on Easter morning two thousand years ago, she clung to
her Hope. Not a hope like, “Maybe I will see Dalton again.” No…we’re talking a “for
sure” Hope. She would have to live separated from Dalton for the rest of her days on Earthl.
Just because she trusted God didn't mean the hurt disappeared. But, Hope in Christ
became a gentle engine that powered her to continue living with purpose and loving those
around her.
Lisa still had to live life doing the things she always did before……running errands, doing
laundry, cooking, cleaning, teaching her students at school, and being the best mom she
can be to her daughter. With Lisa’s human ability, all of these things would be impossible
after the trauma she faced. But with God, all things are possible-even healing after
unimaginable trauma and loss. Lisa grieved in healthy ways in order to continue moving
forward in life by keeping her eyes on the prize–eternity in Heaven! This broken world is
NOT the end!
Lisa knew her story with Dalton wasn’t over. She still wasn’t thankful for her loss, and she
despised the new landscape of the world without her son. But with her eyes full
of tears, she was slowly and steadily comforted by the words, “Until we meet again. I’m
on my way! See you soon!”
Below are some valuable comparisons between these two texts.
While I have to admit that the Easter bunny is adorable and I actually love the chocolate eggs he brings, I could
absolutely live without them for the rest of my life. Conversely, I cannot go on one more day without the Hope
supplied to me because of the empty tomb! Thank goodness God doesn’t force me to deposit my hope in
or trust a furry, four-legged rabbit! And He doesn’t ask you to either.
Important note!!!! A lifelong relationship with God is not necessary to experience the Hope we find in Him. The gift of eternity is received the moment you say yes to Jesus. Jesus’ rescuing Hope is available whether you’ve experienced suffering or not. It is never too late! Reach out to someone you know near you or send me a private message. I would be honored to help you discover a beautiful relationship with Christ.
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