My Easter Story

"A Blessed Happy Easter"

The flowers are beginning to bloom and the grass is getting greener. Oh how I love the song of the newly arrived robins. Nothing makes me smile more than watching those beautiful winged feathered friends hopping along the wet grass, leaning their little heads toward the ground and then plucking a fat meal from that very spot that he was listening to. Is that God or what!
The smells drifting into my nose send me immediately back into my past where things made me happy. In one moment I am living by the ocean, listening to the crashing of waves. Another smoothes the frown lines in my forehead as I remember the walks to the lake, The smell of coconut suntan oil and children laughing as they played in the water.
Today, I thanked God for my gift of smell.
I have been burning a candle in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us.

I would like to share with you

"My Easter Story"

It was the year 2000 and I had begun having heart palpitations and thumping. From being a high energy girl to lagging myself along as though my tail was tied to bricks, was very irritating. I worked 3 jobs plus I would help my friend with her catering business. I walked a great deal and played tennis. I owned my own little double wide trailer and had a lovely little yard to tend to. I chopped wood for my wood stove when I needed to and did voluntary cooking for seniors. I often was called to the hospital by my friend (she was the head nurse there) to ask if I would come and sit with the dying so that they wouldn't be alone. I was not afraid of this gift that God graced me with. I care gave to my mother as she fought cancer for 3 months and it just became natural to me.
One day, Hazel (the head nurse) said:
"We are going to have to get you a pager pretty soon , Glady"
We giggled.
My boss from the Seniors Center where I also worked (my home away from home) kidded me one day by saying:
"Pretty soon the patients are going to scream when they see the 'death angel' at their door!"
A lot of the dying and the families called me their angel so that is how that came about.
My health began to take a turn from active to sluggish and fuzzy brained. (Craig...don't you dare comment on that!)
I began experiencing fainting spells. My kids began to monitor the experiences and then one night when I was alone , I became very nauseas and a sharp pain seemed to stab me in my sternum and my jaw felt like it was frozen. I called my friend over and she took me to the hospital.
That began my 3 week stay in the hospital.
They didn't want to send me home because I would lose my spot for an angiogram.
They also did not want me to be alone.
I was feeling very, very sad this one day because I wanted to be with the church family as they went to the river and faced east at sunrise.
It was Easter-time.
I had been off of the heart monitor for a couple of days now and was able to walk up and down the halls myself. I was still very anemic so I had to be very careful.
On the eve of Easter morning, I told myself that I would get up and sit in the chair next to the window and pray as I watched the sun rise in the east.
I placed the chair in front of the window, placed my bible next to it and went to bed.
I felt so exhausted. I felt like I had run 40 miles!
The next thing I knew was hearing footsteps running around in my room and the Dr. ordering the nurse to hook me up to IV and back on came the monitor.
"Please, leave me alone. This is my time with the Lord. Just leave me and let me rest."
I thought I was verbalizing this but soon realized that I had absolutely no energy at all, even to say
"Go away."
The nurse tried 4 times to insert the IV (this was very painful but I couldn't move). She told the on call Dr. that my veins had collapsed and she couldn't get a vein.
It was then that I was able to verbally say very weakly,
"Trust God and He will guide it in"
It went in.
I might add that Jane was not a Christian and she told me a couple of months later that those words and the fact that it did go in smoothly had quite the impact on her.
Later, when I was able to talk to someone about the experience I explained to them how peaceful I felt. I felt surrounded by some sort of comfort blanket and I really wanted to shut my eyes. it was so peaceful.
I found out later that my blood pressure was clocked at 40/35 ! Just like a clock unwinding.
It was just not my time.

Jesus is always there for us...whether dying or living, healthy or sick.
He loves us so much. We can't even imagine the love God has for us. Even if you weigh His love, it is still not enough.

As we feast this Easter and remember why we celebrate this particular 3 days, may we give thanks for everything we have.
We can see the sunrise and sunset as they colorfully paint the sky.
We hear the robin sing in tune to the lark, and smile as we hear a baby's laugh.
What a blessing to smell the aroma of a baking ham, biscuits and pie.
I love to feel the contours of my kids' faces. I can't hold a new born baby long enough to ease the yearnings of my heart.
When I hear my voice rise in praise of Jesus, I become teary-eyed. Not because of the sound of my own voice but who I sing about.

"Thank you oh Lord for all that I have.
Thank you that I am able to show you how very much I love you.
Thank you for giving me the chance to live and share your words.
Father, I pray that if I ever disappoint you, You would show me the right path to walk.
Thank you Jesus for always walking besides me...
and carrying me through the tough times...Amen"