What an amazing Easter we have had this year! Easter is always great as we celebrate Jesus' sacrifice on the cross & triumph over the grave, but this year was especially sentimental as the princess was here to celebrate with us. She loved all the Easter traditions but thought they were a little strange at first....coloring eggs instead of eating them, eggs filled with peanut butter, pictures with live bunnies (which she really thought were mice)...what! But all of the talk about the cross & Jesus bleeding for the sins of the world REALLY bothered her. We tried to help her focus on the victory at the end of the story, but she always went back to the blood. The other kids hear the story, but take it in a little different than her. I think it has something to do with the reality of what she experienced in Ethiopia. She has told us about watching women having babies , about killing chickens & cleaning them to get them ready to eat, falling off a rooftop & cutting her knee badly, & many other stories that are visual reminders of the pain that is involved when so much blood is shed. Here in America, our children are usually sheltered from gore, violence, & blood shed. They really don't "get" the sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross. However, the princess seems to see how much Christ went through for us. All that said, the days before Easter were filled with many discussions about blood & came to be kind of depressing. However, then came Easter morning....& oh what celebrating. The princess was so excited to celebrate that Christ was ALIVE & there was no more hurting or pain for Him. As I held her during our church service & we sang & worshiped together, I couldn't help but think about blessed we were to have her here celebrating with us. The best part of the worship service was when we sang "Mighty to Save" one the songs from our adoption blog that ended up being the first English song she learned & loved. I think I will always remember feeling her in my arms & hearing her sing that song. Jesus is Mighty to Save...mighty to save us from our sins through His death on the cross & mighty to save us from all desperation & hopelessness through His resurection from the dead. He is alive...He is alive indeed!
