Easter Blessings

Dear friends,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well, in spite of the current climate of the world. All of us, in various ways, find ourselves in difficult, stressful, uncomfortable times, whether physically, financially, emotionally, or mentally. In such an uncertain, uncontrollable situation, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with burdens. I certainly can. But, I’ve found if I choose to force myself to find it, there is always some amount of a silver lining in trying times.

Recently, in my new routine, I’ve noticed beauty in places I often overlook. In the past, outdoor walks were used for exercise paired with phone calls or FaceTime. Recently, I’ve left my phone at home and embraced the quietness and stillness of life right now. I’ve heard chirping birds and flowing water and have been reminded of the beauty of nature. I’ve found a renewed awareness and appreciation for God’s creation. It is amazing how easy it is to allow each day to begin with distractions, checking my cell phone and automatically turning on the news. By changing my morning routine and starting with 15 minutes of quiet time, I have learned once again that God will provide me a level of calm assurance for the day.

With all the negatives in the world right now, it’s easy to see some positives as trivial. Personally, I’ve found the more I’m willing to focus on the positives, however big or small, the more hope I feel. What a perfect time to slow down, find beauty, and embrace the people and things that ultimately matter most to us. I encourage you to use this moment to soak up the stillness and beauty of God’s creation, especially during this Easter season. Let us appreciate our family, our friends and our basic freedoms more and try to see the good in this life God has blessed us with.

Yesterday I had a friend of over 40 years lose her father and the family is not able to fully deal with the difficulties of that during this season. For those who have lost loved ones, our hearts go out to you. We sincerely feel for your loss and pray for peace during this season. 

Easter blessings from my home to yours!