Orphan Easter

Orphan Easter

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Easter that year initially felt a bit sad. With our extended family either traveling or living too far away for a weekend gathering, it was going to just be me, my husband, and our kids. Instead of withdrawing into our own little Easter celebration, I began reaching out to friends, international college students, and neighbors with an invitation: anyone without family nearby or anyone who’d never been part of an American Easter celebration was welcome to join us. The invite went out to the friends of my friends, and we ended up with a crew of around thirty “Easter Orphans” on Sunday afternoon.

Knowing we’d have international guests in the mix—Muslims, atheists, and Christians—I prayerfully pondered what Easter should look like. I’d spent decades secretly despising the silly traditions around bunnies and eggs that consume and overshadow the resurrection of my Savior, but this year the Holy Spirit told me to co-opt those silly traditions for Jesus. And so I did. I bought the traditional Easter candies, boiled dozens of eggs for dying, and prepared a Farkle tournament with chocolate bunnies wrapped in gold foil for trophies.

It was my favorite Easter ever. We laughed over how disgusting Peeps taste and discussed best egg-dying techniques. We enjoyed steak and lamb after my husband spoke a blessing over all of us, recognizing God and inviting him into our gathering. Two of our guests received the Golden Bunny Farkle trophies, and I later learned they stashed them in the freezer because they liked them too much to eat them.

We did life together, and Jesus was in the midst of it all. His presence was in my house, wrapped around my guests, regardless of whether they knew him yet or not. It’s important to show Christ’s love with no strings attached, praying we’ll have an opportunity to share words about him in time. And showing love requires proximity, a drawing together, an invitation into our homes and our lives.

— Julie

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Plan a concrete way to show others the love of Christ this Easter season, considering whom you might invite into your celebrations.