Originally published April 12, 2020
I understand that this Easter Sunday looks much different than past Easter Sundays. However, I woke up to a blue sky, birds chirping. Much like many Sundays before. I won’t be cooking a big dinner today as I’m isolated away from my family members. But we have chosen a time to connect, digitally, of course. It won’t be the same, there won’t be hugs or pats on the shoulder or holding hands. However, there will be laughter and smiling and sharing of old stories, even those of a certain cooked turkey that still contained the bag of innards.
Things right now don’t feel normal. Things right now are not normal. I’ve talked in past posts about chance or change, fear or faith. Today we can make the choice to make change. We can make the choice to not be fearful. We can choose to take a chance on a new ‘normalcy’.
We can still spend time with our loved ones, celebrating, connecting, and laughing. Yes it will be different and not quite feel normal. There will be moments of sadness for the lack of touch, but I’ll take any moment I can see the faces of my boys laugh. I still want to feel joy, spread joy and see joy. I will tell them how much I appreciate and love them, like I’ve done many times before. This is my ‘Act of Service’, the love language I am providing for myself and for them. A different normal for sure.
Today, there are 5 traits I choose to keep in my pocket.
The first one is Courage; “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear”. – Mark Twain
Second is patience: Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting, as that is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience.
Thirdly; Gratitude. “Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into tranquil joy” – D. Bonhoeffer
Fourth trait; Love. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
And lastly; Forgiveness. “To Forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” – Robert Muller.
There is beauty in our new days, it just takes a different lens to look at it. I know that there are going to be times we will be frustrated, scared and angry at what is happening out there. Easter represents a new way of thinking, a new way of being. With Easter comes Spring, even the animals are awakening and venturing out into their new normal. Today I encourage you, just for today, not to worry. But to embrace the change you see or create.
Today, resist the fear and have faith. Today, love and have compassion for not only others but for yourself. Today, have patience with where you’re at or where others may be at, it has not been easy. Today, forgive and change the lens on what you see or how you see.
I wish you all a joyous, non-normal and loving Sunday.
Let the love of what you see…be you.
