Tasting the Bitter Herbs

She stands tall lifting her red plastic cup high overhead. Little eyes sparkle and she tries to follow the words,

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe…

She sips the juice and plops down on her pillow. Table spread before her. Children all around gathered for a normal Wednesday evening church service. Instead led to tables unfolded, flat on the floor. Candles glimmer and children squirm, chatter, and wonder.

Bites of parsley remind. The next bite is maror, the bitter herbs. I warn her it is hot. It is the tiniest amount, but she sobs and spits it out. The taste of slavery. The taste of sin. Unpalatable. Full of misery.

This Passover feast was God’s idea. Families recline at table nourishing souls with food. So wise and yet the symbols blur, overshadowed by one taste burned upon our tongues. The juice washes it away. Sweet purple drops of sap squeezed into a challis and poured.

We all want to drink from that cup, the special cup set aside for Elijah. We do, because one greater than Elijah is here. The communion cup poured out and filled again. Hands of all sizes hold their cups close the the mouth of the clay. The leader gives to all who ask. The words etched by an artisan years ago now wet with drops spilling over the side.

This is my blood shed for you.

Words I don’t understand. Words with promise. Words that take me back to the cross I so easily abandon.

It hurts. Surrounded by hatred and violence.

It’s messy. Smeared with flesh and blood.

I cringe remembering. The god-man groaning in agony as his most precious love turned away.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mathew 27: 46)

Alone for the first time in eternity yet surrounded by the human race. Flesh ripped apart. Soul crushed. The consequences of rebellion, my rebellion. I don’t see my sin the same way. I don’t understand how far removed from creation I am.

The one who was there at the beginning knows. He tasted the sponge sopped with vinegar when he longed for the refreshing dew of the garden. He asked us to remember. He promised not to forget. And while he waits for us to love like he did, he prepares another feast. One without any tears.

Tags: Good Friday, Passover

Noteworthy Links: Lent Reflections Edition

Focused reflections began this week. Simple acts are bringing meaning to conversations. A few questions reveal my youngest doesn’t understand Easter. She knows of Jesus’ birth, but gathering colorful eggs overshadows the resurrection.

I wonder what clouds life for me? Scraps of paper begging for check marks? Vain imaginations wrangling thoughts? Letter keys clanking in the silence? My eyes are dimmed by the temporal, the only foundation I can taste and touch, see and smell.

Day by day, I attempt to explain the eternal. To live for the eternal.

My children squint with me as we look towards the light. Candles illumine our faces as we read Desiring God Christian Resource Library: Lenten Lights.

I need this light. I need the light of truth to fill me with grace and wisdom. I’ll start by continuously remembering the life of another, the One who came from eternity.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

Tags: Lent

FREE Gift: Lent Activities for the Family

Normally, links will only be posted on the weekend, but this item is applicable now. Miiko Gibson compiled a list of family activities for Lent as a gift to you.

The tradition of Lent is not practiced in my church, but I need to examine my heart and meditate on the sacrifice of Christ, too. Miiko makes the point,

Even if our church observes Palm Sunday, the next time the church meets is Easter Sunday. Good Friday is almost glossed over if the family doesn’t make an effort to think about it.

The activities in this small book are short and meaningful. One activity per day is easily implemented, and a sample calendar is available.

Please visit Our Grace Journey to receive this gift. (Be sure to scroll down just a bit.)

And now I’m curious, does your family participate in Lent? How do you remember the days leading up to Easter/Resurrection Day?

Tags: Ebook, Lent

Finally Sharing Links: Valentine’s Day Edition

I share links on Twitter and save links on Delicious, but rarely post them here. I found a new tool to help change that.

Tumblr makes it easy to note interesting sites. Delicious is still my favorite site for organizing links, but my collection tends to overwhelm. My Tumblr page is easy to navigate and easy to copy into a blog post. Simple works for me.

Since I’ve been looking for Valentine’s Day activities, let’s start my new habit with this collection.

Introducing St. Valentine

The Story of St. Valentine- Short story from a children’s reader

Storynory: St. Valentine- Short audio from my daughters’ favorite site

Valentine Activities

The Toymaker: Happy Valentine’s Day- Cute cards and crafts for printing

Lavender and Limes: Valentine’s Day Busy Book- Simple gift for the little ones in your life

Heart of the Matter Online: Valentine Dough- Instructions for making playful pink hearts

Whatever you do or don’t do for Valentine’s Day, I hope your day is filled with love.

Tags: Valentine's Day

When Circumstances Squeeze Wish Lists

Sneaking down the hall, I was astonished to see my parents arranging bows on two bicycles. I convinced myself they were only helping Santa Claus and scurried back to bed.

No wonder the ironing board behind my bedroom door tormented. The clothes hanging on its legs looked exactly like a red suit in the moonlight. Santa was in my room! I pulled the covers over my head trying not to peek or move.

Even though guilt ravaged my sleep, the jolly elf left me presents every year. Some years he brought me boxes and boxes of toys; other years only a few.

I catch glimpses of those toys in photographs. They are all gone. All gone except one, a rag doll. A doll whose face is stained and whose arms are patched.

The elastic in her clothes disintegrated. Bright pink bloomers are secured with safety pins. Her hair gone. Her shoes lost. However, embroidered blue eyes and french knot freckles expose a bright countenance beneath the shabby exterior. She could be revived.

Now I’m the parent who gives presents, and I understand the reasons behind Santa’s choices. A handmade doll stitched by my mother was all that could be afforded one year. I didn’t notice the lack of other presents. I was happy with my doll, so happy that over the years I hugged her hair off.

When circumstances squeeze our wish list, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. The focus can shift back to the things that matter most: family, relationships, love.

I didn’t keep a muslin doll for over twenty years because she was one of a hundred things I wanted. I kept her because my mother made her just for me. She turned scraps into something beautiful and special. Something I can share with my daughters.

As I pull the doll out of the closet, my little girls gasp,

Grandma made this for you? You played with this dolly when you were a little girl? What happened to her hair? Can we play with her?

I smile,

Yes. Let’s get a needle and thread. You can help me fix her dress. What color hair shall we give her? She used to have yellow braids…