April 25, 2019

A Thankful Easter

It's my favorite blogging day of the week, the day I get to think about all the things I'm thankful for, both the large and the small, and share them with you. I try to find the blessing in everything...even the hard things...even the painful things. I've learned over the years that there is always something good in every situation or in something that comes out of it.

Of course, I'm linking up with sweet Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand.



This week I am thankful...

* for Easter and the powerful yearly reminder it is of all that Jesus did for me. For all of us. I just love it!

From Maundy Thursday and the remembering of Jesus's final moments with his disciples...knowing that one of them would betray him, one of them would deny him. The making of a new covenant with mankind. The example of being a servant. The thoughts of that long, lonely night in the garden. He was so stressed he cried blood! He was so stressed, God sent angels to minister to him. But he was obedient to the Father's will.

To the heartbreak of Good Friday and knowing what Jesus endured on the cross...and even before. What they did to him should have killed him before he even got to Golgotha. Knowing he endured what I have never felt...that moment when God turned his face away, unable to look upon Jesus as he took on all our sin (My God, my God...why have you forsaken me?). Knowing that my sin helped to nail him on that cross.

To the waiting of Holy Saturday.

To the triumphant joy of Resurrection Sunday. To the empty tomb. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

* that Easter fell on my weekend off and I was able to celebrate with my family.

* for these three. Sometimes when I look at our family gathered together...four generations from my mom, to Tim and I, to our children and their spouses, and now the grands...it takes my breath away.



* for the sweet, generous neighbor who plays Easter Bunny every year. I don't know who it is, but how much fun they bring!



* for what happened with my daughter-in-law on Easter. 

We have had a terrible relationship right from the beginning. She made it clear from the start that she did not like me and in response to that I have made my own mistakes in dealing with her. At one time I feared losing my son and grandchildren because of it. At best we've agreed to call a truce....which mostly meant that she and our son said what they wanted and acted as they wanted and the rest of us walked on egg shells out of the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. It has also kept me from being as involved or close with the grands as I'd have liked because I couldn't shake the fear that they would be taken away again. It nearly destroyed me the first two times. 

Anyway, their whole family has been working on some things. Our grandson is on the autism scale (though he is like Sheldon Cooper rather what you usually think of with autism). Out of that, our daughter-in-law has been seeing a therapist. It seems like it is really helping her overcome the deep anger I suspect comes from some terrible things from her growing up years.

She has become interested in genealogy and Ancestry.com is her "addiction." She has researched her own family and also all the branches of both my family and Tim's. She is trying to find a link for me so that I can prove we are descendants of John and Priscilla Alden. That opened the door on Easter for a lot of discussion between us and my mom (who also has a not so great relationship with her). She showed us all she had found and asked lots of questions. 

That alone was great. But then when they were leaving...

SHE HUGGED ME!

Easter miracle right there.

* a good week at work. 

* bean soup made from the leftover ham (and I didn't have to make it!).

* the continued warmer weather. I just can't get enough of it! (Remind me of that this summer when I am hating how hot it is.)

* each one of you, who stop to visit and comment. Y'all are like the cherry on top...a special, extra something in my day.

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy your day and keep your eyes open for 
all the blessings that God sends your way.


5 comments:

  1. Love this story about your daughter-in-law! What a great Easter gift!

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  2. Oh my gosh - that just made me get chills about your Easter with your DIL... That's huge. I know your heart had to be lightened - even if for one good day with her. Relationships build one step at a time.
    OK - I now have new goals to dress up like the Easter bunny & roam a neighborhood next year - haha!!!

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  3. Like Rebecca just said, I grew goosebumps reading about you and the DIL. What a blessing … and a testament to patience!

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  4. Stacy!! What a wonderful Easter gift for you (all)!! I hope your relationship with your DIL continues to improve and a new start will build into a more caring association. Praise God!! I always love reading thankful posts on Thursdays!

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  5. Hooray to Easter miracles! I believe in building healthy and strong family bonds!!! Good for you! HUGS

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