Resurrection day ramblings

Ella Bella Cinderella and I had a magical March 1st.  

When I arrived on the playground in my Spring raiment, Ella was immediately enchanted, and so was her friend, Madeline.  Maybe because I dress with colors and mismatchingness that appeals to the eye of little girls who live more in their imagination land than in the “real world”.  Fine with me.  Give me colors, flowy skirts, flowered head bands, polka dotted shoes, and braids any day of the week and twice on the first Springish days of the year. 

I told her we were off for a picnic, and she became even more enchanted.  We packed a picnic full of strawberries and blueberries and oranges, peanut butter and jelly, and a slice of ham. Yes, just one, per Ella’s whim.

She changed from her winter duds that were seriously weighing her down, donning the first flip flops of March, and I was happy. 

Flip flops and bouncy skirts and yellow shorts mean only one thing.  Sunshine and Spring time.

We embraced the sunshine with the first bare legs of the season.  And though my legs matched my overly creamed iced coffee I was most merrily sipping (YEAH BABY ICED COFFEE IS BACK-the goodness of watching the cream dive into the cold caffeinated brew and perform her magical swirly dance between ice cubes and coffee was enough to set an already soaring Spring spirit right into outer space), my legs were grateful for their first droughts of vitamin D in months. 

Ella frolicked amongst the business men and women also soaking in the Spring happiness on lunch break, and I happily sat on the still waterless fountain, and looked forward to more days like this with the added joyous chatter of flowing turquoise fountain water and hopefully the accompaniment of my little sister, and her littler munchkin.  

Ella was kind enough to indulge my forays into stores to inspect the Spring merchandise.  My conclusion?  I don’t care about what’s in fashion (cue non-shocked reaction of anyone who knows me).  Because, sometimes what’s in fashion is just straight up ugly.  I know it’s all taste etc., but I am just sticking with what I like and giving the “talk to the hand cuz’ the face ain’t listenin’” to trends.  The one trend for Spring that I can get behind, only because I have always been behind it, are the bright colors bursting forth from every angle in the stores.  I love me some rainbow hued outfits.  

The other day, Ella and I were just doing our thing.  The pastels were out, and I was creating my next masterpiece for her door.  And, out of nowhere, Ella voiced a thought: “If Jesus had never been born”


cue my thoughts spinning in a negative direction: oh no, what’s she going to ask me?  I’m not sure I am ready to go into the theological ramifications of Jesus not ever coming to save us.

I braced myself.  And she continued on, unabashed and unaware of my inner swirlings:
“If Jesus had never ever been born”
“Yes?”
“If Jesus had never been born, it would be really really sad”.  
Cue stunned silence from completely unexpected statement.

Out of the mouths of babes, as they say.  Truer words have never been spoken, Ella.  I talk about Jesus and our Blessed Mother a lot with her.  She is desperate for love all of the time, and the only One I know Who will ever sufficiently fill to overflowing her need for infinite Love is Love Himself.

So, I am taking my favorite page out of my parents book o’ parenting, and I try include Jesus in everything.  But, I have never said anything like “if Jesus had never come it would be THE WORST”, true though it is. She thought of that all by her little precious self.  It was a time meets eternity and showers joy into my heart kind of moment.  Like when she spontaneously grabs my necklace with the cross and medals of Our Lady and St. Anne (Jesus' grandmama), and kisses them.

I responded with a choked up “Yes, Ella.  That would be very, VERY sad”.   

And that, my friends.  That is exactly why Resurrection day is so darn wonderful.  The wonderfullest, actually.  We don’t have to be very, very sad.  We get to rejoice, because we are an Easter people.  We are redeemed. I woke up this Resurrection day to a text from one of my favorite people, my fousin, Rachie. 

It read:

 


Couldn’t have said it better myself. The journey through the desert with Jesus continues on, but our hearts can sparkle with quiet, expectant joy.  Joy that whispers “Christ has died.  Christ is Risen.  Christ will come again”. 

Back to the desert we go, but I am replete with the joy of Resurrection day.  For I drank of the wellspring of Salvation in the Eucharist today, and He will continue to give us our daily bread.  He is our manna in the desert.  He is the Bread come down from Heaven.  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.  

Ramble on, fellow sojourners.  Jesus is with you-be of good cheer!