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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

I recently happened upon a cute saying: “Silly rabbit, Easter is for Jesus!” Yes, Easter is all about Jesus. For those of us that claim Jesus, this is the season that changed it all.

“There was a boy born with a twisted body and slow mind. At 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher often became exasperated with him. He squirmed in his seat, drooled and made grunting noises. Sometimes he spoke clearly, but seldom.

She suggested he attend another school, which grieved his parents. For a long time after the parents left, she gazed at the snow outside. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize as their only child had a terminal illness, but it wasn’t fair to keep him in her class. She had other kids to teach, and he was a distraction. He would never learn to read and write. Then a thought came, ‘Oh God,’ she said aloud, ‘Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy!’

Spring came, and the class talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. She told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. ‘I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ the children responded enthusiastically — all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises.

The next day, she opened the children’s eggs. Then … she opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy’s and of course, he didn’t understand her instructions. Suddenly Jeremy spoke up ‘Aren’t you going to talk about my egg?’ Flustered, she replied, ‘But Jeremy — your egg is empty!’ He looked into her eyes and said softly, ‘Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty, too!”’ — Focus on the Family, April 1988.

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” — Luke 24:1-7, NIV.

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.