Easter lessons..

What a wondrous time of year this is in Texas. Bluebonnets are popping up, trees are in bloom, the grass is green again...children have spring fever:) I must admit, I still experience it as well. The sunny, cool days make my appetite for the outdoors almost insatiable and my desire to work inside is slim to none. And, in the midst of this renewal, we have the opportunity to celebrate Easter. It is my favorite holiday for so many reasons. An annual chance to re-think, re-new, re-charge, re-commit...be re-born. I am awed by the simple fact that what our God wants the most is an authentic relationship with each and every one of us. He wants us to come to him with our deepest fears, biggest dreams, hopes for our future and He is always waiting with loving, open arms. Hmmm...what an incredible example of parenting we have been given if we would simply model what has been modeled for us. I want my girls to desire to come to me with all of those things. Will I be waiting for them with loving, non-judgmental, open arms? If it is the 123rd time I have heard about a peer who said "I don't want to play with you today" or another broken heart in the string of teenage boyfriends, will I still be patiently waiting to listen with love and validate their pain? During the Easter season, we are reminded that God gave us nothing less than His best. My prayer is that I can do the same for those that I love......