Encouragement

---

Easter Is For Joy
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Easter is for joy. It is for renewal of life, for giving and forgiving, for happiness, for victory over death, reconciliation and remembrance of what was gained as a result of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Lynn was a 14 year old who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly perturbed with the burden of caring for her nephew whom her sister abandoned when he was just 3 months old. She never failed to remind young Lynn if it had not been for her generosity; he would be in the foster care system going from one home to another where no one would love him. Yet in spite of all the scolding and coldness of his home environment, Lynn was a well-behaved, gentle, and loving teenager.

I never noticed Lynn until he began staying in the counseling group room after group session to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly with very little exchange of words but he seemed to enjoy the solitude of the minutes. When we did talk, Lynn spoke mostly of his mother whom he said visited him when he was almost eight years old. He stated remembering a kind, gentle, loving but troubled woman.

Three weeks before Holy Week and Easter drew near; Lynn failed to be present at counseling sessions. I looked forward to his presence. While shopping at the West side Oklahoma City Wal-Mart, I saw him casually walking down the aisle of books and cards. I stooped him and asked him why he had missed three weeks of counseling. I told him how much help he was and that I missed him. His large brown eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?” I explained how he had been my best helper. ‘I have an Easter present for you,” he whispered confidently. With head bowed, he slowly walked backward then disappeared into the crowd of Wal-Mart shoppers.

On Good Friday, Lynn slowly crept into the group room a little after 4:00 PM with his hands behind his back concealing what appeared to be an object of some sort. “I have something I want to give you,” he said in a low tone of voice. He brought forth both hands cupped together, opened them and inside was a plastic container or case containing an egg artistically and beautifully painted with beads of many colors attached to the egg.

“”WOW!” I thought, “Where did you get this, Lynn!”

“Mother gave it to me the last time I saw her,” he replied. “She said it will make you feel good when people reject you, warm on cold nights when I’m not there, and safe when you are lonely.”

“Gosh, Lynn! I can’t accept this,” I said in a low tone of voice as I looked at this magnificent egg.

“It’s an egg of joy, peace and unconditional love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it to someone you regard highly and love unconditionally.” With these words, Lynn quietly left the group room for the last time never to return.

So now I keep an Easter egg enclosed in a plastic case in my office where it may be seen as a reminder of Lynn’s gift nearly 12 years ago. When inquiring visitors ask about that egg I explain to them that it is the egg of joy, peace and unconditional love given as an Easter present by a kind and gentle teenage young man, many, including my eyes weld with a tear of hope for its giver that all is well.

More than any time of the year, Easter is a time for joy, renewal of life, happiness, victory and unconditional love received and given!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE