Storyshare

“Dad?” Susan flipped on a light in the living room. “What are you doing sitting here in the dark before sunrise?”

“I was just remembering when your Mother and I used to visit.” Henry smiled at her from his seat. “No matter how early we got up the kids were always awake and ready to do the Easter egg hunt.”

“You didn’t hide eggs, did you?” Susan looked quickly around the room. “I don’t think teenagers would bother looking for them.”

“I’m nostalgic but not forgetful. I remember you stopped wanting to do Easter egg hunts when you were about Jason’s age.”

Susan sat down beside him. “That didn’t stop Mom from hiding eggs around the house though, did it?”

“I think it was Christmas before we found the last one the year you went into high school.” Henry laughed.

“I’m glad you came to our house this year.” Susan reached out and took his hand. “It wouldn’t seem like Easter without you around.”

“Me too.” Henry patted her hand. “Strange not to come with your Mother but...”

“I miss her.”

“I know you do,” Henry said softly. “I miss her too.”

The two sat in the quiet and the darkness for a few minutes before Susan cleared her throat. “So, what were you doing up so early? Just thinking?”

Henry pointed at the Bible sitting open on the table. “I was just reading the Easter story again and thinking what it must have been like for the first disciples.”

“I can’t imagine that first morning realizing that Jesus was alive again.” Susan paused. “The joy that must have filled their hearts...”

“Joy for sure along with wonder, surprise, disbelief and probably a bit of doubt. The emotions seem to just leap off the page of the Bible. Not to mention the confusion of trying to get your heart around what was happening. The resurrection is a hard thing to understand even for those of us who grew up hearing about it and have thousands of years of people talking about it.”

“So, is that why are you up so early?” Susan tilted her head to one side. “Are you wishing for the days gone past?”

“No. Oh I wish your mother was here, but I know she is in a better place.” Henry wiped at his face. “I was just thinking about the past and how wonderful it is to be living in the here and now.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Nostalgia is nice but it doesn’t go anywhere,” Henry said. “I loved the days when the kids were young, and we hunted for eggs and will treasure them in my heart forever but I don’t want to go back to those days.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because that would mean I miss what they are doing here and now. Jason is going to read this morning in church and I know that Kylie is part of the choir and although no one has told me I wouldn’t be surprised to hear her sing a solo part.” Henry smiled at her. “I’m looking forward to both of those things more than you can imagine because I’ve had the privilege of watching my grandchildren growing up in the faith.”

“I never thought of it that way.” Susan looked up at the ceiling where her children were still sleeping. “You heard her practicing, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Henry said. “In the same way that it is important and wonderful to hear the story of the first Easter Sunday, I think that we always need to remember that the power of the resurrection is not just in what happened long ago but what God is making happen in our lives and in our world right now. This is an incredible time to be alive and to be a Christian.”

They both looked up when a crash sounded from upstairs.

“I guess that means at least one of them are up and will soon arrive downstairs hungry and looking for food.” Susan sighed. “I suppose that I should start breakfast.”

“I’ll give you a hand in a moment,” Henry said. “I need some more time alone. I feel like I need to thank God for this day before it really gets started.”

Susan kissed him on the forehead. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Me too.” Henry bowed his head and began to pray. He gave thanks for the events of the first Easter and the faith of those early disciples and he thanked God for the promise of the resurrection and the faith of the family who surrounded him that day.