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Isn't Easter Just Like Halloween?

This is what is written:  The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (Luke 24:46-47)

One of my favorite new weekly traditions is a Friday morning visit to Starbucks before work.  Unfortunately, this past Friday (Good Friday), I wound up getting much more than my usual ‘Venti’ mild.  Half way through the pouring of my cup, one of the workers stopped to talk about Easter and all the things it meant to her…chocolate, candy, and bunnies.  She then topped off my cup, rung up the bill, and capped off the conversation with “Isn’t Easter just like Halloween.”

I wanted to climb over the counter and shake some sense into her, but thought better of it, and wound up just giving her $1.81 for my cup.  My frustration cooled (as I blended in my usual three sugar packs along with a healthy sprinkling of Half and Half) and I began to pray for her.  I asked the Lord to remove the veil over her eyes, and hoped that one day she too would realize the true meaning of Easter. 

My soul is grieved at the thought of Christ’s death and resurrection being overshadowed (in the hearts of many) by the likes of the Easter Bunny.  Hence, I pray that this Easter, all thoughts of dripping chocolate will get replaced by thoughts of Jesus’ dripping blood from the cross, and that all thoughts of an Easter egg discovery will get replaced by thoughts of discovering Jesus – His love, His grace, and His power.

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