I learned a few years ago that the Easter season is a particularly grueling time if you are in ministry--and then we introduced kids to our family!!! That makes everything easier right?!? Luckily, I am connected to some amazing pastor's wives who have learned & are willing to share their wisdom and experiences with others around them. Specifically, I remember reading the blogs of Tricia Lovejoy & Holly Furtick as they shared about their family Easter traditions & how they have learned to experience all of Easter with their families. It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of pouring into others, that you gloss over what is going on at home for a bit. And, that is NOT what I want to do with our family--it is my first ministry. So, I took from their wisdom, and last year our family started our new Easter tradition--Easter comes to our home on Saturday! We get the girls Easter baskets together, have a fun Easter breakfast, read through the Easter story, and then go to an egg hunt or do some family activity together--we also take most of our Easter pics on Saturday (you may get a couple on Sunday just because the girls are too cute!). Then when Saturday night rolls around, we are rejuvenated as a family and able to focus on & give ourselves to the people showing up for Easter services--their families may be hurting, they may be giving church one more shot, they may desperately need to hear the gospel--and we are ready to serve & love them well! I never want to neglect my family, but I know sometimes that means being a bit creative & going against the normal traditions because of the world God has called our family into! I am thankful that He chooses to use us in the lives of families each week at Lakeland!!!
Comments