Up From the Grave

There was a day my family was applauded at a cemetery . . . well, that might not be completely accurate.  Let me go back.  So, we'd gone to the little country church cemetery where my Dad and many other relatives are buried for Good Friday, so what better place to go on Easter morning?  Our kids were sad to not be back home, walking up the mountain behind our house to celebrate early Easter morning.  That had been our plan.  Then, a virus happened and we were not where we'd planned.

Turns out, Easter morning, Jesus wasn't where anyone else had planned.  Even his best friends went looking for him where they thought he should be, but he wasn't there!  God often has plans for us that are way better than the ones we have for ourselves.  They didn't think it was better at first, Mary was weeping, thinking someone had stolen him away.  I guess our family have shed some tears, thinking we should be back home by now . . . but I have to trust that God has a better way, much like he did on that day.

So, back to the present.  We walked up the hill at the cemetery at 6:30 in the morning.  The sun burst through the clouds that had been forecast to show us a glorious sunrise.  A few other family members joined us, while we stayed a safe distance away.  My Grandma found a seat on her own gravestone flower pot.  We sang, read scripture, took the Lord's Supper, and prayed together.  As we finished singing "He Lives," we heard clapping.  Turns out, the neighbor across the street, probably about a football field away, was worshiping along with us.  I'm sure she was applauding our Savior much more than us!  Maybe we weren't where we wanted to be or had planned to be, but in that moment, I was thankful that we were in that cemetery, letting Jesus know how amazing we thought he was, along with my family and our neighbor.

Maybe today you aren't where you'd like to be.  Maybe you're laid off.  Maybe you're stuck working from home with kids to teach.  Maybe you're sick.  Maybe a loved one is sick and you can't go see them.  Maybe you're on the front lines and seeing the pain first-hand.  I pray you will find God's grace and strength in these days.  He loved you enough to go to the grave and He's strong enough not to stay there!!!  By God's grace, we will be exactly where He wants us to be!  He will find us right in the center of His will, His hands, His Kingdom!