Because the tomb was empty

I'm not celebrating today with bunnies

or chocolate

or marshmallow chickens.

I didn't dye any eggs

or hide them

or hunt for them this morning.

I didn't buy an Easter dress.

Not even Easter earrings.

I know next year will be different. We'll hunt eggs, maybe buy new outfits, and talk about bunnies. I didn't do any of these things this year... not because I made the choice not to. They just didn't happen. 

But this morning I woke up and felt little excited kicks as though he knew it was Easter morning.

"Wake up, Mom. Today we can celebrate."

We can celebrate our family being forever. We can celebrate life. We can celebrate Christ. We can celebrate victory over separation.

All because of Him. 

Because he took my sins, pains, and burdens,

And allowed himself to be cruelly humiliated and painfully executed,

Then laid down his earthly body

And took it up again,

He is mine forever.

and she is mine forever

...and so is he.

Today I'm forever grateful

Because the tomb was empty.