I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You

Let me tell you a background story.

Easter is my favorite holiday. It has been since I was a little girl. I loved the eggs, pastels, chocolate and, of course, the Easter Bunny. But, to tell you the story of why I truly love Easter, we have to look back on Christmas time when I probably wasn’t more than 6 years old. I remember sitting at the base of our extremely tall tree, looking straight up at the lights and Mom’s specifically placed ornaments. I knew Christmas was about the birth of Jesus and I’d heard stories of him every Sunday in church, but I wanted to know more. I remember asking Mom to tell me everything she knew about him. It was during that time when I really started to pay attention to Uncle Steve’s sermons and tried to understand the meaning behind these holidays. As I got older, I understood why Christmas was such a big hit, but still didn’t understand why Easter didn’t seem quite as exciting to people.

Let me tell you why I love Easter.

Imagine knowing that no matter what is going on in your life, how happy or sad you are, how much money you do or don’t have, how many friends have stuck around etc., God sent His son to die for you so that you could spend eternity in heaven. Jesus loved you so much that he gave his life as an account for your sins. Imagine a love that strong. It’s that warm feeling I get when I know I’m not alone that makes me love Easter. It’s that overwhelming joy when I think about an eternity with the ones I love that makes me love Easter. It’s my salvation that makes me love Easter.

Let me tell you about my Grandma

My grandma went home yesterday to be with the Lord. She was reunited with Grandpa, her dad, sister, and so many friends and loved ones that went before her. Although I’ve entered a state of mourning and I’m incredibly sad she’s gone, I’m in peace knowing that she’s no longer in pain. I’m so glad that she left this world surrounded by ones she loved. The lessons she taught each and every one of us will live on. Although she is no longer here, her influence on our lives will help us influence others. As we pass on those parts of her to others, she’ll warm their lives just as she did ours.

Let me close this by saying:

I love Easter because it reminds me that I will see Grandma again one day. It makes me feel confident that because I heard her and Grandpa’s testimonies hundreds of times, they are together in heaven now. We all have the opportunity to feel the same peace if we let Jesus into our lives. So, hold your loved ones close this Easter. Enjoy the eggs, pastels, chocolate, and the Easter Bunny, all the while praising the Lord for this promise of everlasting life if you accept him as your savior. 

Rest in peace, Grandma. I love you. Tell Papaw I say hi <3 

Be Better

At the end of every year, people across the world decide it’s time to make a change. This year, I read so many posts about the horrible year that was 2016. As I began thinking about 2016, I thought of mostly happy things. I presented my own research. I graduated college. I was accepted to graduate school. One sister got married. Another is expecting a baby. I made a few new friends and strengthened relationships with others. Sure, yeah, there were some bad things that happened and most of those things won’t get any better going into 2017, but they still don’t take away from the good things that happened to me last year.

The trick with entering a new year is reflecting on the previous year in a positive light rather than a negative one. Think about the things you experienced, good and bad. Consider how they have shaped you and changed you as a person. Were those good changes or bad?  Events will always happen that are out of your control and most of the time those things will change you in one way or another. The beautiful thing about being your own person is that you are able to decide how you’re going to let things change you. Will you let that break up make you a bitter or a better person? Are you going to use this year to continue holding your grudges or will you decide it’s finally time to let them go? You can’t always control the things you go through, but you can control what you take from them and how they affect you.

I’ve never been a “new year’s resolution” kind of gal. However, I always take time to reflect, pray, and make plans for the new chapter in time. Everything that happened in 2016 shaped me in one way or another. I’ve become more independent while also realizing I don’t need to be independent all the time. I’ve learned that there is a line between letting things go and letting people take advantage of me. I’ve learned that I need to stand up when something is important to me. I’ve learned that considering another side of a topic may change my view and that’s okay. I’ve learned that there are a lot of scary people and beliefs in the world, but my job is to spread love instead of intolerance and hate.

My goal for 2017 is to be better. This is something I’ve been trying to do for a couple of months now, but I’m nowhere near where I need to be. I need to work to be a better Christian, (grand)daughter, sister, aunt, friend, student, employee, etc. I don’t feel like I’m failing in any of these areas, but I could go on for days about how I need to improve. Why do I want to be better? Because if 2016 taught me anything, it taught me that the world is full of hate. This isn’t something I’ve been entirely naïve to, but I feel like it came out a lot more this year than others. People are hated because of race, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, mental disabilities, educational standing, whether they drive a Ford or a Dodge, how many piercings they have, etc. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that listening to someone else’s opinions shouldn’t be as difficult as people make it out to be. You may never agree with someone’s opinion of something, but that does not make either of you less of a person. Your ability to sit, listen, and consider someone else’s opinion and have an intelligent, productive conversation about it is exceptionally important. I could go on about that for another six pages, but I’ll leave it at that.

Long story short, I’m challenging you this year. I challenge you to be better. Be a better parent, child, member of your religion, sibling, worker, student, spouse, etc. Don’t be confused, though. Striving to be better does not mean that you need to be better than everyone else. Your only competition is you. Be the best you that you can be (I know, I know, it’s so cliché). If we all strive to make these changes and to love others rather than spreading hate, lies, fear, and intolerance, then the world will be a better place. You don’t have to agree with everyone. You can still hold strong to your morals and beliefs, while still accepting others for their morals and beliefs. Strive for peace, both within yourself and with others. That will be my focus of 2017. I hope you’ll join me.

Smile always,

e.