Easter Gratitude

Easter was very different this year.
I bought all the usual trinkets, I filled all the plastic eggs with treats and gifts, we colored hard boiled eggs and did an Easter egg hunt. I watched as my children searched for their hidden Easter baskets. But, the usual excitement of seeing their joyful faces as they saw their earthly treasures wasn't the same as it had been in years past. I contemplated this for a little bit, then I realized something. I wanted more than ever for my children to know the JOY of what Easter really was about. I was sullen wondering if they were searching enough everyday for the greatest gift of all. Did they recognize and feel grateful for the real reason for having Easter. Were they searching for the gift of the Saviors Atonement and Resurrection? Did they realize what amazing gifts these were? Did I? An overwhelming and all encompassing feeling of Love, Peace, Gratitude, and Hope came over me. I knew and felt more grateful than I ever had before for the Atonement and Resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In that moment, I felt so much Love for and from Him and our Father in Heaven. I had to kneel and thank my Heavenly Father for giving me, all of us, the greatest gift the world has ever known, the life of His Son and our Brother. We knelt together as a family and I vocalized my feelings. I couldn't hold it in any more and I started to cry. Great tears of gratitude filled my heart and soul and overflowed into tears upon my cheeks. For I believe that... Tears are my body's way of saying the things my heart can not express in words. I am so grateful that I get to be with my Family FOREVER because of Jesus Christ. I owe Him everything. I will try each day of my life to live in a way that His light might shine through me and touch the life of someone else. This is the only way I know to truly give a gift to Him. My will is the only thing that is truly mine to give, everything else was already given me as a gift from Him.

Provo city center Temple

I was again moved to tears, later in the day, as my 3 year old boy came home from Primary School and said,  "Mom, do you know that Jesus Christ died for us? He was Resurrected and that means that we will be resurrected too." Then with added excitement he said, "Guess what! That means Terik will be Resurrected!" I hugged him and cried and smiled inside thinking, "my children are learning about the true meaning of Easter. One little step at a time."