Easter thoughts

Caroline & family update
Caroline continues to have good days and bad days, when it comes to eating. I have seen her getting stronger little by little. She experiences only minor discomfort and still can only sleep upright comfortably.

The children seem to be fine. Nathan had a brilliant time at camp, came back all wind burnt and happy. Bethany is excited about Easter and going to a birthday party on Saturday.

I feel OK, just weary. Managed to get to the Gym this week, felt a lot better.

Easter Thoughts
This is a significant time for Christians as we reflect on the death and resurrection of Christ, and recall the great love God has shown us at this time.

I am so aware that God has been so gracious to us as a family and given us back Caroline. I also know that if the prognosis was not good that God's grace would strengthen us and give us hope.

Death is not a full stop! it just a semi-colon and so there is more to life than meets the eye. There is the pain of loss and grief to those this side of the semi-colon. I am so aware that some of you are in this place and there is nothing that can take away the pain of that loss. But there is someone who travels with us through this valley of shadow and death.

For those who travel beyond the semi-colon there is liberty from pain. For those who share in the Christian hope death is a form of healing, it is not a defeat.

The message of Easter is a realistic one, for it includes pain, shame, grief, guilt, loss. We see in this story humanity at its best and worse and yet through all of this God's love was not undiminished. Jesus spread his arms wide for all, even those who nailed those arms to a piece of wood. We can try to nail God down, but the resurrection shows a profound truth about God's love. He continues to love.

For us we have been through a death and resurrection period. It is so easy to forget that we have been given life when I see the struggles that Caroline sometimes goes through. But these are the struggles of resurrection, not death. These are not the death throes, but birth pains!!
It would so easy to slip into despair and forget the many kindnesses and prayers that we have received, but we refuse to do so.

Easter reminds me that though there may be pain, darkness and evil, that God has the final word and that word is RESURRECTION _ NEW LIFE.

Have a great Easter