Easter...

Easter...ah a time for traditions.  A spring bouquet, going to mom's for a ham dinner after church, Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies and the infamous Easter outfit!  I remember Matt's first Easter when I was frantically hemming a  pair of little tan corduroys.  It, of course, had a matching cream colored sweater, with a Beaxtrix Potter bunny in the upper right corner.  Yes, I had planned for him to wear a darling pair of plaid shorts with suspenders and a matching solid light blue shirt, but it was freezing out that Easter morning. I had to quickly change plans. 

So there I was...stuck with either being a horrible mother and dressing my baby inappropriately, but very cutely, or changing Easter clothes at the last minute.  The corduroy outfit was a great Easter choice too,` but too bad those corduroys were longer than his little 9 month legs.

O.k so the clothes theme is a frazzling Easter tradition.  Let's move on to a more positive one.  When we moved to Ohio, on that Easter morning (Matt's 2nd, mind you)  at church, my sister, Ranae, greeted me with "He is risen." 

I smiled...not sure what else to do.  Yes, Jesus certainly was risen.  What a nice reminder, although the awkward silence that followed seemed a little, well...awkward.  Being a sister, she noticed immediately and said, "You're supposed to say, 'He is risen indeed.'  That's what the early church did."

"How cool,"  I said.  "He is risen indeed!"  From that point on, this became my Easter greeting to my family.  :)  In fact, Meredith just woke up a little bit ago.  I smiled and said, "He is risen!"  Meredith smiled back and said, "He is risen indeed!"

Traditions really are a pretty neat thing.  Just the other day I heard of a new one.  When Jewish people were being served and had to leave the table, a wadded up napkin meant, I'm done.  Go ahead and clear my place.  A folded up napkin meant just the opposite, I'm not finished.  I'll be back soon."

As my friend shared this story, I continued waiting for 'the rest of the story.'  Clearly it was lacking the punch line, the reason for  telling the story in the first place.  Then, my friend's wife, noticing my continued anticipation said, "Bob, tell her the rest."

She, obviously decided herself, that his pause was too long and she continued.  Think back to the tomb, when the women rushed in after the angel had rolled the stone away.  Remember Jesus' clothes after he had risen?

Chills spread down my arms.

Tears filled my eyes.

Oh yes, they were folded! 

He is NOT finished!  He is coming back!

To this, sin-sick pilgrim, that is the best news ever!  "He is risen!"  "He is risen indeed."